News Highlights

Article: "LaVar Christensen is clearly more conservative than Jim Matheson. But answers from both 2nd Congressional District candidates to a Deseret Morning News questionnaire greatly differ on only one point: Whether Democrats winning control of the U.S. House will bring disaster to Utah and the United States" (Morning News).

Tribune editorial says vote against 3rd District Judge Leslie Lewis.

Think tank report says illegal immigration is still a hot election issue (Morning News).

Quote of the Day

"We could talk about blogging, YouTube, MySpace — these are all very innovative, really radical ways of campaigning that, even now, I don't find in my textbook."

-- Tim Chambless, a University of Utah political scientist who teaches a class on campaigning, in a story by Nicole Warburton about how more and more campaigning in Utah is done on the Web (Morning News).

Good Education = Higher Pay

Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s weekly Tea Leaf economic update discusses the value of education in making money and getting a good job. “The disparity between the education ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ will likely continue to widen as rising sophistication of the American and global economies develops.  Workers without education are equivalent to boxers with one arm tied behind their backs.” However, says Thredgold, schools don’t always do a great job of preparing students for the workforce.

Blog Watch

Jesse Harris says: "In the art of persuasion, you are more likely to bring someone to your point of view with civility, rationality, and concessions when you are either wrong or don't know the answer. Politics, it seems, prefers brute intimidation. It is largely a game of berating and belittling your opponent into submission, trying to make them look bad using loaded questions, and using condescending language and references. It's juvenile and unbecoming supposedly civilized people. I've come to see that some of the prime offenders in this melee are 'angry left' Democrats who lob invective not only at Republicans but at Utah's dominant religious group, the Mormons.... This is going to cause headaches for Utah Democrats in a number of ways. First, Mormons are going to associate the Democrats with Mormon-haters, driving them further into the Republican Party. Second, many non-Mormons will be turned off by the religion-bashing and stay away from the Democrats, associating them with this bad behavior. Third, it will make many Democrats, the vast majority of which are good people, shy away from participating in a party that allows such bad behavior to occur"... Capital Carnage says: "It appears that Sen. Curt Bramble is going to win his bid for leadership in the Senate. What I am wondering is if Bramble's victory is going to have a negative effect on his fellow Utah County'ite' and current Senate President John Valentine's reelection bid. Will the majority body get behind two leaders from the same geographical area (one that is not Salt Lake County) and elect them to the two top leadership spots, or will Senator Waddoups rally the SLCo Senators to help him win the Presidency away from Utah county?"... At Out of Context, Matt Canham reports: "U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson is a Democrat, but does everything he can to avoid that party label. No donkeys or 'D' words appear on his campaign signs or TV spots. He also regularly sides with President Bush. Now, this page from the Matheson playbook has been swiped by at least one Utah Republican, an odd move in a state as red as this one. Or maybe it just shows the Democratic power of Salt Lake City. Joe Jarvis, who is running against state Democratic Sen. Scott McCoy in state Senate District 2, doesn't mention his party affiliation on any billboards or mailers. And in one recent mailer, Jarvis even touts his Democratic ties. He lists former Democratic Congressman Bill Orton and Christine Helfrich, chairwoman of the Utah Democratic Health Care Reform Caucus, as supporters. And on his web site, Jarvis has an audio 'podcast' in which he says 'I've tried to run a bipartisan campaign.' Apparently that means he is running as a Republican and a Democrat. This obviously doesn't sit well with McCoy, who said he had one voter call confused about who was the Republican and who was the Democrat in the race. In a recent City Weekly story, McCoy sums up the race this way: 'Why vote for an imitation when you can vote for the real McCoy?'"... Race 4 2008 says: "Two centuries after this country was founded by at least nominal Protestants of the white, Anglo-Saxon variety, one of its major parties may be on the verge of nominating a presidential ticket that is completely free of the religious group that a plurality, if not majority, of Americans still identifies with. Two of the GOP's most likely '08 nominees, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, are non-Protestant Christians by most definitions ... And with a number of orthodox Catholic GOP rising stars making everyone's veep shortlist due to the continued importance of issues like abortion to conservatives and Republicans, it's quite possible that 2008 could mark the first time in American history that a major political party nominated not one, but two non-Protestants for the presidency and vice presidency."

Washington Watch

Lawmakers Protest Lands Bill

In a letter to House leaders, 47 lawmakers protest the Washington Co. growth bill being sponsored in Congress by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson (Associated Press).

Local Watch

New ULCT Website

The Utah League of Cities and Towns website is sporting a new look. To check it out, click here.

National Politics

After Election, Blame Game Starts

No matter who ends up controlling Congress after Tuesday’s election, there will be plenty of blame and recriminations. In his “On the Trail” column in NationalJournal.com, Chuck Todd speculates about who gets the blame and credit under three different scenarios that are possible on election day. Under Scenario 3, “… if Democrats fail to win at least one of the chambers, the recriminations and finger-pointing will be epic. The failure to win in this environment will probably cost Dean and Pelosi their jobs and will put all of the Democratic leadership in Washington on notice.”

Regional Politics

Article: "Democrats in Colorado and neighboring states believe that unaffiliated voters ... are the key to what could be a turnaround in the party's political fortunes in the region. Despite a Republican edge in registration, Democrats are discovering the Mountain West -- and Colorado in particular -- to be a new political frontier as the party benefits from a potent mix of changing demographics, anger over the war in Iraq, resentment toward conservative social initiatives and millions of dollars' worth of advocacy advertising" (New York Times).

Wise Words

“We were told our campaign wasn’t sufficiently slick. We regard that as a compliment.”

—Margaret Thatcher (Source: The Federalist Patriot)

Best of Late Night Humor

David Letterman: “Top Questions to Ask Yourself Before Voting for Schwarzenegger”: “Do I feel comfortable having a governor who oils his chest?”; “Have I thoroughly considered Stallone, Van Damme and Seagal?”; “Is ‘Come on, it’ll be funny’ a good reason to vote for someone?”; “Has he done enough to make California a laughingstock?”; “Can I bench-press more today than I could three years ago?”; “What would Predator do?”; “Have I lost my mind?”

Jay Leno: The Army has changed their slogan from “Army of One” to “Army: Strong.” Other countries are doing it too. India did it. Their new slogan: “We fix more computers before 9 AM than you do all day.” Switzerland has a new slogan: “We are ready... with a knife, a little scissors, a tiny corkscrew and a nail file.” Morocco has a new slogan: “Less talk, More rocco!” Luxemburg: “An Army of One. Literally. His name is Pierre.” And Cuba, “Invading America one raft at a time.” ... Dictator Kim Jung Il is ecstatic since setting off North Korea’s first atomic bomb. They say he’s walking around like he’s five feet tall! ... He is a strange looking guy. He’s little, he’s got the big pompadour. Looks like Wayne Newton and William Hung had a kid! ... You want to scare Hillary Clinton? Here’s what you do—you knock on her door dressed as Barack Obama and yell, “I’m running!” (Source: The Federalist Patriot)

Elected Officials Birthday List

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Editor: Paul Hollingshead
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Utah in the National News

According to officials at the Republican House and Senate campaign committees, the only national GOP candidate using Pres. Bush in a campaign television commercial this election cycle is Utah 2nd District hopeful LaVar Christensen (Washington Post).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Shift in House control hurt or help Utahns?

- Cannon, Burridge can agree on little

- Another refinery in works for Utah?

- Illegal immigration still hot topic in Utah races

- Web campaigning hot

- Provo sues paving firm

- Clearfield planners to vote on mixed-use project

- 3 candidates in a vigorous race for House District 53

- Commission to hear request on stadium

- Utah County forming own medical reserve

- Utah economy beats nation's, survey says

- UBiDS aims to help firms get contracts

- Utah partnership to focus on government contracting

- 3 companies recognized by economic group

- Editorial: Ready to vote? Go now

Standard-Examiner

- Weber County attorney releases report on officer's suspension

- Greiner's funds nearly double his opponents

- Miles off ballot for failure to file

- Editorial: Electric-rate fairness

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- Understand the role of each county office

Park Record

- Miles, Richer: voters have a choice in race

- Wasatch, Morgan voters praise government change

- Voters cast early ballots

- NoMa merchants tout bright future

- People in line to protest water right

- Brickey probed by the state

- Editorial: Park Record Endorsements Part 1: Hatch, Open space, Olsen, Uresk and Johnson

City Weekly

- The Ocho

- Fluff Guide

- Editorial: Stay the Course: No state is more politically monotone than Utah. But that doesn't mean we aren't immune to possible changes

KCPW

- An interview with Republican Chris Cannon

- Center offers companies tips on securing gov't contracts

- Auger says SL Co. Council needs a west-sider

- Corroon wants $400k to immunize infants

- Aging Commission requests more time

- Electronic voting questions answered

St. George Spectrum

- CICWCD looks at capital projects

Davis County Clipper

- 'Shots' ring out in Viewmont drill

- Public disputes roundabout sign, city says too late

- Bountiful lists $83 million needed for myriad projects

- Council vacancies in F.H., Kaysville; F.H. due Thurs.

- Opinions run positive on tax hike

- Keeping air clean will get tougher

- Her Point: Saving open space in Davis is visionary

- His Point: The county needs less — and more

KUER

- Third District candidate says it's time for a change

Daily Herald

- Election could affect Utah's congressional clout

- Outdated maps may delay voters in Am. Fork

- Utah County Health Dept. runs out of flu vaccine

- Burridge talks about student loan interest at UVSC

- Editorial: Will the poor be chased away?

BYU NewsNet

- BYU Broadcasting announces election coverage

KSL

- Elections could bring about significant change

- SL, Utah County voters to consider Proposition Three

- Editorial: Approve Amendment One

Salt Lake Tribune

- Trip deals sweet for Utahns in Congress

- Dry winter looming for Navajo burg

- Official changed or ignored data on species, activists say

- Clerk rivals spar over tech issues

- Ogden probe clears mayor, police chief in protest incident

- Advocacy group for the poor is in a struggle to survive

- Bishop: It was right to invade; Olsen: Pentagon failed troops

- Davis likely to approve big property tax increase

- Users of power wheelchairs appeal proposed funding cuts

- Center helps navigate contracts

- Utah economic growth dips, but inflation eases

- Editorial: Judicial temperament: Vote 'No' on retention of Judge Leslie Lewis

- Editorial: Dilute the soup: Let's cut pollution, no matter what color the day

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Nov 2: Downtown Alliance 12th Annual Achievement Awards Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 South West Temple. The awards are designed to pay tribute to those individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to downtown Salt Lake City during this past year.
- Nov 2: Water Issues Task Force, 9 a.m., room W125.
- Nov 2: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features Bob Brister, Green Party candidate in the Second Congressional District; Bushra Jamil with an update on Radio Al-Mahaba, the woman-run radio station in Baghdad that has found support in Utah; and Jack Brittain, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business, and Bob Price, former CEO of Control Data Corp., on managing for technology innovation.
- Nov 2: Professional Republican Women meeting, 11:30 a.m., Panache Private Club, 2nd Floor Wells Fargo Bldg. Guest speaker is Ric Cantrell, assistant to the Utah Senate President and Public Information Officer for the Utah State Senate. Ric will be talking about media and politics on Utah’s Capitol Hill. Cost $20 for members, $25 for guests. Contact Melanie Rogers to RSVP or for info, 801-891-6926, melmrogers@yahoo.com.

- Nov 2: Gov. Huntsman to attend Native American Awareness Signing Ceremony, 3 p.m., Governor's Board Room.
- Nov 3: Early voting ends, contact your county clerk for times and locations.
- Nov 3: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot. Also last day to postmark absentee ballot. Ballot must be received before the last day of canvass, 7 to 14 days following election.
- Nov 3: Lt. Gov. Herbert to address attendees of the 21st Annual Utah Department of Public Safety Awards Banquet, 7 p.m., Thanksgiving Point, Lehi.
- Nov 4: Green Party Honk 'n' Wave for Peace "U.S. Out of Iraq, Now," featuring Bob Brister, Green Candidate for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, 10 to 11 a.m., NW corner, intersection of State Street and 6400 South. For more information see www.bristerforcongress.org.
- Nov 4: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend the Utah Manufacturers Association Awards Banquet, 6 p.m., Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City.
- Nov 6: Last day to apply for and vote an absentee ballot in-person at your county clerk's office.
- Nov 6: Hinckley Forum "Confucius Beliefs and the Effectiveness of Local Governance," 12 p.m. Guest is Da-chi Liao, President of the Taiwan Political Science Association.
- Nov 7: 2006 General Election
- Nov 8: Hinckley Forum "Who Won and Why," 11 a.m. Live RadioWest with Doug Fabrizio. Kirk Jowers, Director, Hinckley Institute of Politics, Dan Jones, Professor Lecturer, Political Science Department; President Dan Jones and Associates, Dave Buhler, Adjunct Professor Political Science Department, U of U; Chair, Salt Lake City Council.
- Nov 8: Hinckley Forum "What We Give Back: A Conversation about our Responsibility to our Community," 6 p.m., Libby Gardner Hall. Guests include Rev. Trace Browning, Episcopal Chaplain, Rowland Hall Saint Marks, Ruby Chacon, local artist, Ron Yengich, criminal defense attorney, Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake City mayor, Honorable Judith S. H. Atherton, Utah Third District Court Judge, Steve Ott (moderator).

- See the entire calendar