It’s Over … Time to Party!
Vote today, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In some ways it has seemed like a very long election year, and it’s nice to have it over. Republicans gather tonight around 8 p.m. in the Hilton Hotel, 250 South West Temple. Democrats will be a bit more than a block away, in the Downtown Marriott, 75 South West Temple. After all the polls, punditry and analysis, it will be fascinating to see what the people decide, especially at the national level.
I won’t be shedding many tears tonight if the Democrats take over the U.S. House. While I don’t think the national Democrats have anything to offer by way of agenda, programs or leadership, I also don’t think the Republican Congress has performed well enough to deserve to run the place. A two-year hiatus would be good for them, sort of like being benched by the coach for a quarter, so they can get their act together for 2008.
Wise Words
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual—or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” —Samuel Adams (Source: The Federalist Patriot)
Editorial Comment: Why Vote?
KSL Radio/TV: “Foremost, it’s a civic responsibility! Elections are at the very core of democracy. By casting ballots, Americans choose their leaders, decide vital issues and determine the nature of their government. As is always the case, the future of America, the state and each community is at stake and every citizen has opportunity to have a say in how it will go.”
Deseret Morning News: “Given that level of effort on the part of so many who want to serve, the least you can do as a citizen today is to study what they wish to accomplish, understand the issues and cast an informed ballot.”
Salt Lake Tribune: “Today's election is a referendum on President Bush's conduct of the war in Iraq and other national security issues. As election issues go, it doesn't get any more important or basic than war. If that doesn't drive voters to the polls in droves, nothing will.”
Daily Herald: “For those who don't vote, we've tried appealing to your sense of duty … We've pointed out that low-voter turnout means a vocal minority calls the shots and the people they select may not have the public's best interest at heart. … We've even tried shaming you by pointing out that fledgling democracies have better turnout … Is it time to try compulsion? Should participation in an election be required by law?”
“White Horse” Clarification
On Monday, UPD linked to an OpinionJournal.com story quoting Utah GOP Executive Director Jeff Hartley. Hartley said the story misquoted him and he asked the Wall Street Journal for a clarification. He told UPD later that the reporter who wrote the story contacted him and said the WSJ is issuing a correction because a copy editor messed up the story.
Here is Hartley’s request to the WSJ editors:
“Today you reprinted a story from the Capitol Leader regarding Mormon prophesy and politics that contains a grievous error that must be corrected. The young writer, Carrie Sheffield, misquotes me as citing Todd Neilson and LaVar Christensen as former LDS candidates who ‘intimated’ to me that ‘the Constitution's hanging by a thread, and that they would be there to defend the Constitution.’
“In fact, I never said that either man told me he was running to fulfill the White Horse Prophesy. Rather, I told Ms. Sheffield that many candidates have strong personal feelings that running for office is the right thing to do and that members of the LDS Church, like most Christians, believe that some feelings are inspired. Both Neilson and Christensen fit into this category.
“As you can imagine, inspiration is a very sensitive and personal subject with all people of faith. I am deeply concerned that Todd Neilson and LaVar Christensen not be cast in an improper light. There is a huge difference between running for office because one feels on a personal level that it is the right thing to do and running for office to save the Constitution as it hangs by a thread.
“The record must be corrected to protect the good names of these men. Please consider pulling Ms. Sheffield's piece. If that is not possible, I request that my comments be published to correct the record. Please let me know if further information is needed.”
UDOT Panel Discussion
On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Utah Transportation Commission will host a panel discussion on the Mountain View Corridor and tolling. The panel will open with welcoming addresses by Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and UDOT Executive Director John Njord; Ted Knowlton of Envision Utah will moderate. For more info, click here.
Hinckley Fellow Larry Sabato
The Hinckley Institute has announced the upcoming visit of American political analyst Larry Sabato, who the Wall Street Journal said was “…the most quoted college professor in the land.” During his visit as a Hinckley Fellow Nov. 13-15, Sabato will visit with students, lecture at a Hinckley Forum, address law school students and faculty, meet with high-school teachers and students, and speak at the Dialogue on Democracy Dinner at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The public is invited to hear Sabato speak (no charge) at his Hinckley Forum “The Political Crystal Ball” on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 10:45 a.m. in the Hinckley Caucus Room (Orson Spencer Hall Rm. 255).
Blog Watch
Sen. Bob Bennett, David Rodeback, and Bob Aagard make election night predictions... Rep. Craig Frank responds to this D-News article on the upcoming leadership elections in the Utah House and Senate.
What’s Open Downtown?
The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance on Monday commemorated the start of construction at City Creek Center by proclaiming that downtown Salt Lake City remains open for business. The more than 100 restaurants, 575 ground floor businesses, 40 clubs and entertainment venues, and more than a dozen museums and cultural attractions will not be impacted by the construction of City Creek Center. In addition, during the start of construction, all streets will remain open, parking and shopping at Crossroads Plaza and ZCMI Center will remain open, and holiday festivities such as Lights On!, Holiday Sing-Along, Messiah Sing-In, and First Night will continue unaffected. See press release and a map of what’s open.
Regional Politics
Colorado Turning to Democrats?
Fred Barnes: "As recently as four years ago, Colorado was a reliably Republican state. Republicans held the governorship, both houses of the state legislature, both U.S. Senate seats, and 5 of the 7 U.S. House seats. In 2004, Democrats won the legislature, a Senate seat, and a House seat. Now it seems likely they'll pick up the governorship this year -- Democrat Bill Ritter has a solid lead -- plus a House seat or two. Politics, of course, has always been dynamic and is frequently marked by regional differences. Georgia turned Republican in 2002 and 2004 while Colorado seems to be going the other way" (Weekly Standard).
Favorite Headlines
(Source: James Taranto’s Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.com)
Um, Maybe to Stay Alive?
"Wansnik Wants to Find Out Why We Eat"--headline, Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.), Nov. 5
You Don't Say
"Silent Plane Would Cut Airport Noise"--headline, CNN.com, Nov. 6
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