|
Campaign Media Watch
The Internet and Politics
What impact is the Internet having on political campaigns? Dr. Michael Cornfield, a VP at a campaign technology firm and columnist for Campaigns & Elections magazine, says in an article that the jury is still out, but currently the impact is significant, but not huge. “Looking ahead, the Internet's role in politics will keep evolving as technology advances and users adapt it for new purposes. Someday, the iconic Internet president may emerge, dominating the medium like FDR on the radio and JFK and Ronald Reagan on television. But thus far, the most compelling narrative about the Internet and politics is not about candidates' skill with new media. Rather, it centers on activists' use of e-mail and Web sites; small donors' contributions online; bloggers' passion to debate issues; and amateur videographers' search for ‘gotcha’ moments. Perhaps that is the best contribution this technology can make to democracy.”
Washington Watch
Hatch, Bennett React to SOTU
Sen. Orrin Hatch says Pres. Bush laid out a "pragmatic agenda" in his SOTU speech Tuesday night (see press release); Sen. Bob Bennett's Senate website has posted audio and video clips of Bennett's reaction to the speech.
National Politics
Big State Primaries May Go Early
As many as four big states could move their presidential primaries to early February next year, “further upending an already unsettled nominating process and forcing candidates of both parties to rethink their campaign strategies,” says a New York Times story. “The changes would appear to benefit well-financed and already familiar candidates and diminish the prospects of those with less money and name recognition going into such a highly compressed series of contests early next year.” … Hedge fund money is destined to find a way into politics, says a New York Times story.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice . . .
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update newsletter this week features Thedgold’s “Wouldn’t It be Nice…” wish list for a better society and world.
Today in Political History
Jan. 25, 1961: President John F. Kennedy holds the first presidential news conference carried live on radio and television. (Source: National Journal 2007 Calendar of American Politics)
Wise Words
“An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.”
-- T.S. Eliot (Source: the Quote Garden)
Blog Watch
At Out of Context, Thomas Burr says: "[Tuesday] night, Sen. Orrin Hatch called me to share his thoughts about the President Bush's State of the Union speech, but he also wanted to tell a quick story. There I was, huddled outside the U.S. Capitol, trying to keep my pen from freezing up, when Hatch dropped this bombshell: 'Bono called me tonight.' 'The Bono?' I inquired. 'Yes. He's in Utah right now.' You see, when visiting Utah, apparently it's a good idea to check in with the state's senior senator/songwriter. Hatch says he assured Bono he was pushing for more AIDS treatment funding for Africa, a major Bono cause that Bush mentioned in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night. Hatch added that the U2 superstar -- who once gave Hatch the nickname Johnny Trapdoor -- was very impressed with how beautiful Utah is. 'Bono just complimented our state like you can't believe,' Hatch said. Maybe Bono finally has found what he was looking for".... Also at Out of Context, Rebecca Walsh reports: "Last year, legislators called gun-loving Rep. Curtis Oda 'One-eye Oda.' This year, that's changed to 'Dead-eye Oda.' After Oda revealed on the House floor Tuesday that he killed 3,000 sparrows with his first BB gun -- at the age of five -- his colleagues realized just how serious the Clearfield Republican is about his firearms. 'I had very good success during that year,' Oda waxed nostalgic. His grandma asked him to bring every bird he killed back home. And he did -- thousands of them. 'This just goes to show that kids can learn,' he said" (for more Legislature-related posts, see here, here, here, here, and here).... The Senate Site says: "We're hearing a lot about the rapid growth in government, so we asked staff to analyze how Utah State Government growth compares to the change in population and inflation over the past several years. Here are several slides to scroll through that tell the story -- or at least offer more perspective on the story. Check them out. The message: Putting money in a savings account, and paying for roads & buildings doesn't grow government very much. Focus in on the expenses that actually make government bigger and you might be surprised at how the numbers pan out. We're not in love with all government, and we're not saying this is true in other states or in D.C. but, here in Utah, government growth seems to be falling behind growth in population and inflation" (see also here).... At Hotline On Call, Marc Ambinder reports: "Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) will pick up the endorsement today of Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), the ranking member of the House intelligence committee and its former chairman. Hoekstra will be Romney's campaign adviser on intelligence and will serve as one of his principal tutors on foreign affairs. Hoekstra's endorsement may boost Romney's credibility among conservatives who worry that he lacks national security experience. ... The unveiling of Hoekstra's endorsement comes one day after Romney, in Israel, urged the UN to impose strict economic sanctions against Iran and indict the president of Iran on charges of genocide. In the months after 9/11, Romney, then the CEO of the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee, was regularly briefed by intelligence officials on threats to the Olympic games. As Governor, Romney headed an intelligence task force for the National Governors Association, and ex-Homeland Security Sec. Tom Ridge appointed him to a national homeland security advisory committee. In recent months, Romney's self-directed study of foreign policy and national security has included briefings from current senior intelligence officials and former CIA directors like James Woosley."
Favorite Headlines
(Source: James Taranto’s Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.com)
-- What Would We Do Without Polls?
"Polls Say Wealth Is Important to Youth"--headline, Associated Press, Jan. 22
-- Oh, but the Paisley Looks Fabulous!
"Event Opposed for Its Gay Ties"--headline, Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.), Jan. 24
-- At Least He Wasn't Wearing a Gay Tie
"Jackson Ex-Lawyer Testifies in Tape Suit"--headline, FoxNews.com, Jan. 24
-- 'She's a Saint'
"Earnhardt Jr. Defends Stepmother Teresa"--headline, WRAL-TV Web site, Jan. 23
-- Bauer Gets Busted
"24 Held After Immigration Raid"--headline, Baltimore Sun, Jan. 23
Late Night Humor
David Letterman: “Top Ten Little-Known Facts About Barack Obama”: As a child, was taunted with “Obama’s so fat jokes”; After finishing Harvard law, served as Doug Llewelyn’s understudy on “The People’s Court”; Follows Bush’s weekly radio address DJ-ing the “Barack and Roll Power Hour”; Real last name: Obamawitz; At Senate hearings, throws on his iPod whenever John Kerry has the floor; Makes immigration speeches as hilarious, uninformed foreigner “Borat Obama”; Presides over congressional committee to lower Al Gore’s body fat; Only running for President to tick off Hillary.
Jay Leno: … Fidel Castro is in very grave condition, very ill health. In fact, his priest told him yesterday that he will soon be in a better place. And Castro said, ‘I’m going to Miami?’ ... It was Castro’s wish to be buried at sea, but, unfortunately, all the rafts are currently in use in Cuba. ... Senator Hillary Clinton said although there are many problems in Iraq, there are good things about the Iraqi people—like the fact they hang adulterers. ... In her first press conference after her trip overseas, Hillary Clinton said she thinks we need to send more men to Afghanistan. The men she wants to send? John Edwards and Barack Obama. ... It’s official, Hillary Clinton is running for president of the United States. She said, “I’m in it to win.” That’s what she announced, she’s in it to win. That may seem obvious, but Democrats running for president have lost so many times they have to keep reminding themselves why they are in the race. “Oh yeah, to win.” ... Hillary says that she has gotten hundreds of calls telling her to go on the road and campaign for the next two years. That’s just from her husband Bill. ... Kansas Senator Sam Brownback says he is running. He said he’s going to follow the yellow brick road to the White House. Just watch out for the Wicked Witch of New York! ... John Kerry says that he loves cookies so much that he thinks he is the illegitimate son of Cookie Monster. Really? Looks more like the illegitimate son of Herman Munster.
|
