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Getting Back To Work
I’ve been away from Utah for more than a week on vacation and I tried my best not to pay attention to much that was happening in politics. It was nice to get away and remember that the world does not really revolve around politics and that most people aren’t even tuned in to government and politics.
That is actually an important lesson for people who eat and breathe politics. If you start thinking that everyone is as interested in politics as you are, you have lost perspective and you aren’t in a position to make wise decisions or to effectively communicate with or persuade average citizens. So it’s good to take a break periodically and gain a fresh perspective.
It’s going to take me a day or two to catch up and get back into the routine of work, but things are getting back to normal at Utah Policy Daily.
Romney Fundraising
I received a couple of calls Monday asking for contributions for the Mitt Romney campaign. The callers were Utahns who were at the Romney fundraising bash in Boston (see Romney Watch). They said it was an exciting event, raising $6.54 million, the most money ever for a presidential candidate in one day. If you want to contribute, use this form at the Romney exploratory committee site.
Political Zingers
Winston Churchill on arch-rival Clement Atlee:
-- "A sheep in sheep's clothing."
-- “A modest man, who has much to be modest about.”
-- "An empty taxi arrived at 10 Downing Street, and when the door was opened, Atlee got out."
Media Watch
Launch Launches
New on-line magazine named Launch is published by Grow Utah Ventures and is focused on supporting business startups and entrepreneurship in Utah. Editorial chairman is Alan Hall, founder and chair of Grow Utah Ventures, who says, “I believe we are entering a golden age for entrepreneurship here in Utah.”
Campaigns Using Video
Interesting Washington Post column by media watchdog Howard Kurtz on the use of on-line video by presidential candidate John Edwards. Video will be a crucial part of the communications toolbox in the 2008 presidential campaign. For the first time, candidates will use video extensively, and they will publish it on YouTube, MySpace, in e-mail messages and newsletters and on their own Web site, in addition to trying to get bloggers and the mainstream media to use it. A lot of it will be staged. This is the first campaign where video will be ubiquitous. "We live in a world in which everybody has the power to capture and then broadcast," said Mathew Gross, who is candidate Edwards’ Internet strategist.
'06 Sierra Club Achievements
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has posted a summary of its top 10 achievements in 2006. Number one on the list: "Sierra Club activists from around the country and national lobbyists helped persuade senators not to allow Senator [Bob] Bennett's [and Rep. Jim Matheson's] growth-on-steroids Washington County Growth & Conservation Act of 2006. Defeat of this bill means no public lands in Washington County sold to developers, and the revenues from such sales will not fund inappropriate development projects."
Taxpayers Association Newsletter
The Utah Taxpayers Association has posted its January newsletter. This month's edition looks at Gov. Huntsman's proposed FY2008 budget and features a column by Assoc. Pres. Howard Stephenson who criticizes local elected leaders in Salt Lake County for spending most of the sales tax money generated through Proposition 3 on mass transit instead of highways. He suggests the Legislature might retaliate by reducing local road funding.
Network With Gen Xers
Mike Winder is inviting Generation X Republicans to another networking lunch on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hires Big H, 400 S. 700 E. In a message Winder said: “Our October breakfast was a success, and another quarter has gone by, so it is time for our next Gen X GOP Networking Lunch. It will be good to see you all again. As always, feel free to invite others who might be interested.” RSVP to Winder at: mike.winder@winderfarms.com.
Regional Politics
New York Times essay about new Montana Sen. Jon Tester going to Washington. The writer compares Tester to Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of Mr. Smith in the old Frank Capra film parable.
Blog Watch
At Under the Dome, Rep. Craig Frank delivers a long post on laws regulating 16-year old drivers and unintended consequences….Neal Abercrombie posts some highlights from the 2007 Economic Report to the Governor, which was recently released by Gov. Huntsman's Council of Economic Advisors.... Shauna Harris explains "how organic farming can save Utah agriculture".... SLCSpin notes: "Here's something new. And cool. It's the most comprehensive collection of Utah political blogs to date".... At Out of Context, Robert Gehrke reports: "The White House announced Monday that Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt would lead a delegation to the inauguration of Daniel Ortega as president of Nicaragua. For those who missed the '80s, Ortega was a leader of the Sandanista movement, which overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua in 1979. In 1985, Ortega became president, but the Reagan administration didn't approve of his Marxist tendencies and bankrolled, trained and supplied Contra rebels who fought to overthrow the Ortega administration. Ortega lost an election in 1990, but didn't fade from the scene and won the presidential election in November, to the chagrin of the U.S. government. Ortega promises a moderate rule this time. In addition to Leavitt, the inauguration will be attended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Should provide some interesting conversation for Leavitt: 'Hey, remember that time my government used illegal arms deals to try to throw you out of power? Ah. Good times'".... The Washington Prowler reports: "Sources inside the exploratory presidential campaign for former Massachusetts Gov. [Mitt] Romney say there are high level discussions taking place that would put former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the top most slot of the exploratory committee. 'The talk is Huckabee serving as chairman of the exploratory committee,' says one insider. Huckabee has been mulling a presidential bid of his own, and was viewed as a potential threat to the Romney campaign, particularly in the South, where the minister and former governor would peel away social conservatives from the Massachusetts moderate. 'This strategically would be an interesting decision, not only for Romney, but for Huckabee,' says one Washington insider who is aligned with the McCain campaign. 'It helps Mitt marginally, I don't see what's in it for Huckabee at all, which to my way of thinking means it won't happen.' On Thursday, Romney released the names of his big money finance co-chairs, which featured at least one eye-brow raiser, eBay CEO Meg Whitman, a woman considered by most to be of a liberal political stripe on social issues, as well as some economic issues. In 2006 Whitman entangled eBay in the 'net neutrality' fight in Congress, sending a letter to millions of eBay customers and clients, asking them to support federal government regulation of the Internet" (hat tip: Article VI Blog). |
