The Week Ahead
It’s the last full week of the 2006 election and candidate activity will reach a fever pitch with lots of paid advertising. But this still feels like a sleepy election, and turnout is likely to be low. Most of the drama is at the national level with control of the U.S. House and Senate up for grabs. … On Tuesday, financial disclosure reports are due for all candidates, PAC's, PIC's and political parties. … Early voting ends Friday. For other political events, see the Utah Policy Daily calendar.
Monday Musing
Ogden Mayor
I like politicians who are visionary, who think big, who aren’t afraid to tackle tough projects. Even if they fall short, they make more progress than more timid souls. I don’t know Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey, but I’m impressed with his leadership and hard work, as reported in the news media. He’s making things happen in Ogden. His vision of making Ogden an outdoor sports capital is becoming a reality as a number of outdoors-related businesses are moving to Ogden. A Sunday Standard-Examiner story provides an update.
Blog Watch
... KVNU's Tom Grover says Utahns don't seem to be very engaged in this election cycle. ... Keith Curtis says: "Some pundits say that Mitt Romney cannot win the Presidency in 2008 because he is Mormon. I believe that his victory in Massachusetts proves he can win anywhere. The only commonality between Mormons and Massachusetts is mutual disappointment that 'Pistol' Pete Maravich was past his prime when playing for the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics. This makes me wonder why Romney ran for Governor of Massachusetts in the first place. I have four theories:
-- Mitt Romney believed that Massachusetts was a haven for Mormonism because of a misconception about American history. He thought the Boston Tea Party was a group of Mormons rebelling against caffeinated drinks.
-- Romney thought fellow Mormons Donny and Marie wrote 'A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock and Roll' because of their love of Massachusetts. He believed this since WKLB Radio in Boston makes the state 'a little bit country', while the last few Aerosmith albums were only 'a little bit rock and roll'.
-- He believed New Englanders frequent use of the word 'wicked' was due to their strong desire to distinguish good and evil, which is a hallmark of Social Conservatism.
-- Romney figured that even if he were the only Mormon in the state, he would never look more out of place than former Massachusetts Governor Dukakis riding in a tank. The other question I struggle with is how Mitt Romney actually got elected as Governor. My theory is that the voters were confused about the acronym LDS. Instead of Latter Day Saint, they believed LDS stood for Liberal Democrat Spendthrift, and therefore Romney would be just like Senators Kennedy and Kerry." … At Out of Context, Dan Harrie says: "The Deseret Morning News and columnist LaVarr Webb have come clean with his conflict on the sales tax for transportation ballot issue. In [Sunday's] column, Webb includes the following disclosure right up front: 'I'm helping direct the campaign for Proposition 3 and the Opinion Question in Utah County, so I'm obviously biased.' Plaudits and congrats for doing the right thing. It wasn't so painful was it? It only took two months after we started berating them for failing to disclose this vital bit of information" (see also here)... Paul Rolly reports: "Rep. Jim Ferrin of Orem has been a loyal member of the Republican caucus during the several years he has been in the Legislature and, obviously, has benefited from his Republican credentials in election after election over the years since he lives and runs in one of the most Republican-dominated areas in the United States. … But Ferrin ultimately lost (in a contentious Republican primary) to fellow Republican Stephen Sandstrom. So Ferrin, apparently, isn't so Republican anymore. He has a campaign sign in his yard for the Constitution Party candidate, Edward McGarr, the only opponent Sandstrom has since there is no Democrat in the race. So much for party loyalties."
Washington Watch
Matheson Praises Energy Dept. Action
Rep. Jim Matheson says he's "pleased that the Department of Energy is moving forward with the process to select a contractor to begin removal of the radioactive tailings pile on the Colorado River near Moab" (see press release).
National Politics
Could Libertarians be the salvation of the Republican Party? NationalJournal.com column by Clive Cook makes that argument. New trends in campaign fundraising is the focus of a National Journal cover story.
Wise Words
“Speak only well of people and you need never whisper.”
-- Fortune cookie from the Golden Phoenix
Utah’s Top Issues
Here is our weekly list, generated by observing what’s hot in the news media, what’s on the agenda of various policymaking groups, and what’s being discussed among opinion leaders and policymakers. We welcome suggestions and input from UPD readers. E-mail daily@utahpolicy.com.
Hottest of the Hot
- 2006 elections
- Gas prices still high
- Utah’s big budget surplus: Cut taxes or spend it
- Cyber-safety issues (cyber predators, child pornography, identity theft, Internet scams, etc.)
Emerging
- Transit, roads project list if Prop. 3 passes
- Education achievement gap of disadvantaged students
- Western states primary
- 4th congressional seat for Utah
- Tolling on highways
- Snake Valley water pumping for Las Vegas
- SITLA land sale on Green River
- Minimum wage increase
Mature
- Downtown SLC revitalization
- Immigration
- Washington County land sales
- Open space funding
- Guns at college
- Affordable heath insurance
Getting Old (but not totally resolved)
Oldies But Goodies
- Banks/Credit Unions
- Highway funding
- Vouchers/School Choice
- Tax cuts vs. education funding
- No Child Left Behind
- Healthcare reform/Medicaid
Favorite Headlines
- What Would We Do Without Experts? "Modern Buildings Are Complex--Experts"--Tide (Port Harcourt, Nigeria), Oct. 27
- What Would We Forgo Without Mental Health Experts? "Forgo 'Psycho' Killers, Mental Health Experts Say"--Portsmouth (N.H.) Herald, Oct. 26
- What Would We Do Without UCF Professors? "UCF Professor Says No Such Thing as Ghosts"--WDBO-AM Web site (Orlando, Fla.), Oct. 26
- Radical Memory Loss: "Recall Wipes Out Sony's Profits for Latest Quarter"--New York Times, Oct. 26
- Do Police Chases Normally Cheer People Up? "Police Chase Depressed Driver"-- Indianapolis Star, Oct. 27
- Bottom Story of the Day: "Fire Breaks Out at Salt Lake Crematorium"-- KTVX-TV Web site (Salt Lake City), Oct. 25
(Source: James Taranto’s Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.com)
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