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National Politics
Leavitt: No to Price Setting
In op-ed, HHS Sec. Mike Leavitt expains why the feds shouldn't get into the business of setting prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries (Washington Post). New York Times editorial takes opposite position.
Suggestions for Iraq
Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich write in a Wall Street Journal essay that lessons learned in New York City can be applied in Iraq. Meanwhile, columnist Peggy Noonan says it’s time to start drawing up a serious plan to withdraw from Iraq.
Washington Watch
Hatch, Bennett React to New Iraq Plan
Sen. Orrin Hatch says of Pres. Bush's new Iraq War proposal: "The President has articulated a fundamental change in strategy designed to win the war in Iraq. For too long, we have been using conventional warfare tactics to fight an insurgency. This is a different kind of war. Our strategic objective must be to provide the Iraqi people with a secure environment. Only then will they be able to rebuild government institutions and develop a growing economy. ... This is what the President is proposing, and I believe it is an intelligent approach" (see press release); on his Senate website, Sen. Bob Bennett says of the Iraq plan: "I was struck by how comprehensive the president's proposals were and how careful his analysis was, including all the various things that have gone wrong and an admission that the responsibility for those was his. His proposals ... not only focused on military operations, but also acknowledged the importance of economic and diplomatic efforts. As the president said, the consequences of failure in Iraq are too horrific to contemplate, and because of that I think we need to give this new strategy an opportunity to work."
Hatch, Matheson Protest Meetings Format
Sen. Hatch and Rep. Jim Matheson send a letter to Dr. James T. Tegnelia, director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, objecting to the format of the public meetings being held in Utah on the proposed Divine Strake experiment (see press release).
Regional Politics
Denver Lands DNC Convention
Article: "News [yesterday] that Denver will host the 2008 Democratic National Convention for the first time in a century is generating excitement and cheers among local and state officials. ... Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper called the convention a 'great opportunity,' not just for Denver and Colorado but for the whole Rocky Mountain West. ... Denver's win is seen as acknowledgement of the growing political importance of the West on the national political stage and an unmistakable message for Colorado: help us elect the next president of the United States. 'There is no question that the West is important to the future of the Democratic Party,' DNC chairman Howard Dean said in a statement" (Rocky Mountain News) (see also related Denver Post story).
Sutherland Publication
The Sutherland Institute has posted a new publication, Learning What It Is by Understanding What It Isn't, as part of its Defining Conservatism Series.
Podcast Watch
Jennifer Napier-Pearce has posted the latest edition of her InsideUtah.com podcast featuring political gurus LaVarr Webb and Maura Carabello on the upcoming 2007 legislature; and glass artists Dinah Ihle and Mary Young on their vision for a glass art sky bridge downtown.
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site, Sen. Chris Buttars says: "Little by little, over the last 200 years or so, a cloak has been pulled over the First Amendment, masking its guarantee that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' I think it is time to pull back that shroud and carefully re-assert the vision established by our founders. ... I am introducing legislation which will take a small step toward restoring the unalienable rights of freedom of expression and freedom of religion. This bill puts Government out of the business of prohibiting religious expression" (see also here and here).... Education in Utah says: "The voucher rumor of the day is that in this year's legislative session, a provision authorizing vouchers will be lumped in with the Education Omnibus bill. What this means? That instead of getting a debate on the merits of vouchers, there will be an attempt to push vouchers through with the whole education funding package. If vouchers are good policy, shouldn't they be able to stand on their own?".... Davis Didjeridu says: "I was extremely relieved to see the DNC award the 2008 convention Denver. It is about time that either party decided to have a convention in the Mountain West. Colorado's transition to a bluer state has been no accident; it was an investment of money, time, and people into reforming the media structure, recruiting good candidates, a strong field operation, and long-term (more than one election) planning for victory. Utah Democrats (and obviously Republicans) have something to learn from this model, and we should be working hard to export it. However, it will take Utah's donor community to finally stand up and make some substantial investments into the same sort of operations with which Colorado's progressive community successfully experimented" (see also here and here).... At Out of Context, Robert Gehrke reports: "Has Rep. Rob Bishop had an epiphany on stem cells? And if so, what terminal disease does he have that brought about his sudden support for research? When Rep. Diana DeGette introduced her legislation to expand government funding of stem-cell research this week, there, listed as a co-sponsor, was Bishop. Bishop voted against the bill last year, but Sen. Orrin Hatch can be very persuasive. Or maybe it was a clone produced from cells taken from Bishop's lush, silver hair. Or it could just be a misprint. The sponsor's office called Bishop's office recently to double-check whether he should be included as an original co-sponsor. No way, they were told. It's likely that Utah's Bishop was just confused with Rep. Tim Bishop, D-N.Y., who is a co-sponsor, or, more likely, Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., who was a co-sponsor last year, but isn't listed this year. However, supporters can still boast that two out of three Bishops support stem cell research".... At The Right Angle, Robert B. Bluey reports: "A source close to Sen. John McCain's presidential exploratory committee tells HUMAN EVENTS that McCain's team had nothing to do with the video that appeared [Wednesday] on YouTube showing GOP rival Mitt Romney at a 1994 debate with Sen. Teddy Kennedy (D.-Mass.). ... HUMAN EVENTS has learned that McCain staffers were individually asked if they had any knowledge of the video. They denied having anything to do with it, and apparently first learned of the Romney video when it was posted on Wonkette [Wednesday] morning. Romney and McCain have feuded over social issues in the past. Last November, for example, Romney accused McCain of being 'disingenous' on gay marriage. Expect the debate to grow louder and get nastier" (see also here, here, here, and here).
Casual Friday
Outdoors Report
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
-- DWR proposing changes for Utah hunting and fishing fees in the Tribune
-- Morning News on getting fit with racquetball
-- Hunting Expo will bring thousands to Utah next week in the Tribune
-- Freestyle ski competition held at Deer Valley in the Morning News
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
New Films
-- Miss Potter: Rotten Tomatoes
Concerts
-- NOVA Chamber Music Series, Sunday, 3 p.m., Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Theater
-- “Jack Frosty: He'Snowman to Mess With” through January 13, Desert Star Cabaret
-- “Ariadne auf Naxos” through January 21, Utah Opera
-- “The Ladies Man” through January 27, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “See How They Run” through Feb. 10, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “See How They Run” through Feb. 10, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “The Man With The Pointed Toes” through Feb. 17, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Nunsense A-Men” through Feb. 24, Desert Star Dinner Theatre
-- “Butch Cassidy & the Sunburnt Kid” through March 24, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Unseen Shores: The Post-Vietnam Era from the U.S. Navy Art Collection through January 13, Peace Garden Exhibition through January 27, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Painters of the Wasatch Mountains Exhibition through January 28, Museum of Utah Art and History
-- Sideshow through January 28, Utah Museum of Fine Art |
