Utah Policy.com Web Site Update
Note to readers: We are looking at updating the UtahPolicy.com web site and would appreciate suggestions from readers about content. Presently, the site consists mostly of the Utah Policy Daily newsletter, which is posted there each day. We could make the site more blog-like, so that readers could comment on items posted and RSS and other technologies could be employed. We could create forums and discussion groups and make the site more interactive with reader-created content. We could incorporate audio and video podcasting featuring interviews and political events. If you have thoughts about improvements on the site to make it more useful and interesting, send me a message at lwebb@exoro.com.
Washington Watch
Hatch Praises Hammond
Sen. Orrin Hatch makes a statement in the Congressional Record regarding Monday's shootings at Trolley Square, praising Ogden police officer Kenneth Hammond and "the many, many other police officers from various law enforcement agencies who responded to the calls for help" (see press release).
National Politics
Obsessing on the Presidential Race
In a thoughtful Wall Street Journal column, Peggy Noonan says, “Maybe the (presidential) candidates would do themselves good by leaving the trail a few days and trying to sit quietly in a room, by themselves, with no distractions, and think about big things, such as who they are.”
Regional Politics
Feds Investigate Gibbons
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons is under scrutiny regarding gifts and payments received when he was a congressman (New York Times).
Retirees vs. Family With Children
Controversy in Arizona over who should pay for public education Retirees want to keep taxes low. Area near Scottsdale creates school district with no students to avoid paying taxes (New York Times).
Wise Words
“I think it's about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we've been voting for boobs long enough.”
-- Clarie Sargent, Arizona senatorial candidate (Source: Quote Garden)
Blog Watch
Frank Staheli says: "I[t] surprised me when I found out that a bill requiring parents to visit the tanning salon with their children was actually being proposed in this year's Utah legislature. Imagine my wonderment that Senate Bill 52 has now actually passed the legislature and is waiting for the governor's signature. ... This potential law is another indication that apparently we don't expect teenagers to be mature. To me such a low expectation is a far worse societal problem than skin cancer" (for more on the Legislature, see Blog from the Capital, The Senate Site, Utah Democratic Caucus, Utah Taxpayer, Out of Context, mullentown, New West, Under The Dome, Lincoln's Legislative Blog, UAC Blog, and Dee's 'Dotes).... At The Politico, Terry Michael says: "[E]very bone in my libertarian Democrat body tells me the presidency is Mitt Romney's to lose. The images and sounds of the 'savior' of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics bring to mind former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers' observation about Bill Clinton: He seduces women, he seduces men, he seduces pets. Mitt Romney is Bill Clinton with his pants up. And he'll very likely be cast in 2008 ('nominated,' if you prefer the political science verb) against Clinton's wife, who has all the seductive qualities of John Kerry in a pants suit. ... [G]o to Mitt TV and see what I mean. I scared myself. I believe the Iraq war is a nearly criminal enterprise. I'm a social-cultural leftie who wants the government out of my bedroom and away from my body. But I was nearly mesmerized by a guy whose religion I consider akin to a cult, whose Iraq war support angers me and whose posturing against gays I find obnoxious. So, I find it kind of appalling that I find him appealing. Political seduction is a powerful drug" (see also UNCoRRELATED and Political Spyglass).
Casual Friday
Crocuses, tulips and daffodils are poking up in gardens everywhere, signaling that spring is around the corner. We’ll have some nice weather in the next few weeks, so it’s time to get active, get outdoors and shake off the winter cobwebs.
Outdoors Report
-- Morning News and Tribune report that the fishing season has started at Lake Powell and promises to be one of the best ever. A 32.5-pound striped bass was caught
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes.
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook, Recreation Roundup, and Outdoor Briefs for sports and recreation news and activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films
-- Breach: Rotten Tomatoes
Concerts
-- Monte Belknap and Barbara Allen, violin and piano, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, free
-- Repertory Dance Theatre, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Pardoe Theatre, BYU, $16 (801-422-7664)
--Young Ambassadors, Friday, 7:30 p.m., LDS Conference Center
-- BYU Crescent Jazz Festival, through Saturday, 7 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, $9 (801-422-7664)
-- Flying Karamozov Brothers, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- “A Broadway Valentine,” Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Austad Auditorium, Val A. Browning Center, WSU, Ogden
-- Golden Dragon Acrobats, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Eccles Center for the Performing Arts
-- Orchestra at Temple Square, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., LDS Conference Center
-- Salt Lake Choral Artists, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, U., $15 (581-7100)
-- West Valley Symphony, Saturday, 8 p.m., Granger High Auditorium, 3690 S. 3600 West, $5
-- “The Sleeping Beauty” through February 17, Ballet West
-- Performing Dance Company, through February 17, Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance, U.
Theater
-- “Aida” through February 17, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “The Man With The Pointed Toes” through Feb. 17, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Metamorphoses” through February 17, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University
-- “Nunsense A-Men” through Feb. 24, Desert Star Dinner Theatre
-- “Sexsting” through February 25, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Into the Woods” through March 3, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Hello, Dolly” through March 10, Center Street Musical
Theatre
-- “The Hobbit” through March 10, Academy Theatre Company
-- “The Who's Tommy” through March 10, Egyptian Theatre
-- “Butch Cassidy & the Sunburnt Kid” through March 24, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Pot Pie the Sailor Man” through March 17, Off Broadway Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Nathan Thomas Jones: Scattered Shadows and Collected Light Exhibition through March 11, Lesleigh: Paris — City of Light Exhibition through March 11, Kimball Art Center, Park City
-- The Quiet Landscapes of William B. Post Exhibition through May 28, Museum of Art, Brigham Young University
-- Modern Utah Exhibition through March 10, New Narrative: Warhol, Stella, Marden, Fitzpatrick through March 17, Ascension Exhibition through March 17, Salt Lake Art Center
Et Cetera
-- Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m., downtown
-- Snowshoe with a Naturalist, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Saturdays and Sundays through March 25, free, reservations required
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