| 
Campaign Tip
Who’s Your Campaign OPO?
The Washington Post features an interesting article about Online Political Operatives, who have become must-have staffers at all the big campaigns, particularly the presidential campaigns. Some have staffs of 10 or more people. “For these online political operatives -- or OPOs, as a few have taken to calling themselves -- the Internet isn't just a tool. It's a strategy, a whole new way of campaigning, a form of communication, from blogs to MySpace to YouTube, with far more potential than the old media of print and television. ‘TV is a passive experience, and the Internet is all about interactivity, all about making a direct connection …’”
Rocky/Hannity Debate Video
The SLC Mayor's Office has posted video of last week's debate between Rocky Anderson and Sean Hannity.
Sutherland Hails Voucher Study
The Sutherland Institute is highlighting the release of a new study by the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation that finds that "school choice programs throughout the country generated nearly $444 million in net savings to state and local budgets from 1990 to 2006. Contrary to opponents' predictions, the analysis also finds that instructional spending per student has consistently gone up in all affected public school districts and states." Says Sutherland President Paul Mero: "Opponents here in Utah claim that school vouchers will reduce spending in public schools. Yet the study's analysis of the states where school choice is available finds that this is not the case. A recent study calculated that, if passed by the voters, school vouchers could save Utah about $700,000 each year, and save local public school districts $26 million each year" (see press release).
Fund of Funds Workshop
The Utah Fund of Funds sponsors free monthly brown bag Emerging Entrepreneurship Workshops for entrepreneurs at any stage of development or business type. Presented by leading experts, the workshops cover a variety of important venture topics. This month's session on May 24 will be led by J.D. Gardner, general partner with Monarch Ventures, discussing “Am I Building a VC-worthy Company?” All workshops are held at noon in the Fund of Funds offices at 310 South Main Street Suite 1310. For more information click here.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Improve Drug Safety
Sen. Orrin Hatch says he played a key role in passing a major overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration's efforts to ensure the safety of regulated products, including drugs, devices and food. The Senate passed S. 1082, the FDA Revitalization Act, which also contained a number of Hatch-backed provisions that impact Utah (see press release); Hatch announces that the Office of Management and Budget has given final clearance for good manufacturing practices regulations for dietary supplements (press release).
Bennett Introduces Lupus Legislation
Sens. Bob Bennett and Patty Murray introduce "legislation that will strengthen our nation's efforts to identify the causes of lupus, improve lupus data collection and epidemiology, heighten lupus awareness and understanding, and move toward a cure" (see press release).
Cannon Condemns 'Retreat' Agenda
Rep. Chris Cannon says of Rep. Jim McGovern's immediate withdrawal legislation: "MoveOn.org forced the Democrat leadership into making retreat the agenda and Harry Reid announced 'we've lost' at press conferences -- should we be surprised that Al-Qaeda produces videos declaring victory? Democrats must ask themselves who they stand with. An immediate withdrawal from Iraq will diminish the military and political prestige of the United States. Al Qaeda will then declare America has run from a fight and many Iraqis will die in the ensuing chaos."
Today in Political History
May 11, 1858: The state of Minnesota is admitted to the Union.
May 11, 1960: Israeli agents seize Adolf Eichmann in Argentina and take him to Israel. He is accused of coordinating the so-called "Final Solution of the Jewish question." Eichmann will be found guilty and hanged May 31, 1962. His last words: "I was just following orders."
May 11, 1961: President John F. Kennedy authorizes American advisers to aid South Vietnam against the forces of North Vietnam. (Source: perspicuity)
May 11, 1973: Charges against Daniel Ellsberg for his role in the Pentagon Papers case are dismissed by Judge William M. Byrne, who cited government misconduct. (Source: New York Times)
Wise Words
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
-- John Adams (Patriot Post)
Utah Trivia
What ethnic enclave in early-twentieth-century Salt Lake City centered around Plum Valley?
A. Little Italy
B. Chinatown
C. Germantown
D. Swiss Village
Answer: B, Chinatown (Source: Salt Lake City-About.com)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Washington Post: "House Republican moderates, in a remarkably blunt White House meeting, warned President Bush this week that his pursuit of the war in Iraq is risking the future of the Republican Party and that he cannot count on GOP support for many more months."
-- Gallup News Service: "The latest Gallup polling finds Democratic preferences in the race for the 2008 presidential nomination returning to where they have been for most of the year, with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton the solid front-runner over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and the other candidates. Her 'experience' in politics is a major reason for her appeal, as it is mentioned most often by Clinton supporters as a reason they back her."
-- New York Times: "After months of conflicting signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews in the coming days, despite the potential for bad consequences among some conservative voters already wary of his views" (see also related Margaret Carlson column).
-- Boston Globe: The '08 presidential candidates "want to tap into the ... citizen power of the Internet, but they also want to control their message. In a growing number of cases, campaigns are finding these efforts impossible to reconcile. 'You have technology and political strategy at war with each other,' said Phil Noble, the founder of politicsonline.com, which monitors how campaigns and the Internet interact. 'The challenge is, how do you align them, how do you take advantage of the technology in a way that moves your strategy forward?'"
Blog Watch
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart notes: "Monday I spoke at a government CIO conference in Florida. I was sure to point out that everything I am able to do here and at Politicopia, and things that other members of Utah's political blogosphere are able to do, are significantly enabled by the tremendous online resources provided by the State of Utah. (If you haven't ever done it, take a few minutes to poke around other states' websites; you'll see how fortunate we are). A big driver of Utah's advantaged position is the work of Dave Fletcher. Dave has rejoined the blogosphere and tells us why he's been missing (he's been busy)."
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
Spring runoff will impact fishing in northern Utah during the next week or so. With the warm weather, snow is melting quickly and streams are rising. The biggest impact will be on the Green River, where flows will be artificially high because of the annual attempt to benefit the river's native fish. Flows could increase to 4600 cfs and that will change the fishing dynamic on the stream.
Dennis Breer has these comments in his weekly fishing report: "Having dealt with flows of 4600 cfs for many years now, I no longer see them as a bad event. My opinion is actually the opposite, when these flows are steady, higher water is actually good fishing." Dennis has excellent, practical advice about how to fish high flows. He reports that cicadas are now producing hot fly fishing on the Green. Read his weekly report.
Other northern Utah streams will be high but most will be fishable. The best action may come on sheltered sections below dams: the Provo below Jordanelle and Deer Creek, the Weber below Rockport, the Ogden below Pineview, etc.
In southern Utah runoff will be minimal. Lake Powell is very good right now for all species. Stripers are everywhere and biting well; smallmouth are aggressive and defending nests; walleye are hungry and on the prowl. Read Dave Webb's complete fishing report.
Outdoors Report
-- “Cycle Salt Lake” events in the Morning News
-- Tribune takes readers paragliding in Utah
-- St. George Triathlon this Saturday in the Morning News
-- Morning News finds improvements at Yuba Reservoir
-- Visit Antelope Island in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and The Outsider for outdoor activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- Georgia Rule: Tribune review
-- The Ex: Tribune review
-- 28 Weeks Later: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Deseret Chamber Music Festival: Orpheus Winds, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, $14
-- Utah Flute Association and Erich Graff, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College, $10
-- “Elijah,”Bryn Terfel, Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake Tabernacle, Temple Square, free but tickets required
-- “Evening of Dance,” Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, Provo, $8
-- “The Orphan Train,” Repertory Dance Theatre and Theatre Arts Conservatory, Saturday, 11 a.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- “R Is for Rhyme,” Virginia Tanner Creative Dance, Saturday, 10 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m., Kingsbury Hall, U., free -- Spring Ensemble Concerts featuring Seven Piano Ensembles, Sandy Music Teacher Chapter, 450 students, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., South Towne Center, 10450 S. State, free (571-2909) -- “Funtastic Flutes!” Flautissimo, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fruit Heights, free but donations will be accepted
-- U Singers Benefit Concert, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
-- Salt Lake Symphony, Saturday, 8 p.m., Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance, U.
-- Madeleine Festival, Sundays through May 20, Cathedral of the Madeleine
Theater
-- “Proof” through May 12, Pinnacle Acting Company
-- “Reviving Ophelia” through May 12, Babcock Theatre
-- “The Mikado” through May 14, Provo Theatre Company
-- “Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse” through May 19, Children's Theatre of Salt Lake
-- “My Fair Lady” through May 19, Grand Theatre
-- “The Grapes of Wrath” through May 20, Capitol Theatre
-- “No Time for Sergeants” through June 2, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “The Secret Garden” through June 2, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Seussical the Musical” through June 2, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Utahoma!” through June 2, Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Phantom of the Grand Ol' Opry” through June 9, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through June 9, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “Les Miserables” through June 23, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “The Secret Garden” through June 23, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Nunsense A-Men,” Desert Star Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Resonance and Return: Social Documentary Photography, 1935-Present Exhibition through May 19, Salt Lake Art Center
-- From Above: Images of a Storied Land Exhibition through May 20, Utah Museum of Natural History, University of Utah
-- The Quiet Landscapes of William B. Post Exhibition through May 28, Museum of Art, Brigham Young University
-- Brian Kershisnik: Painting from Life Exhibition through July 1, Head Trip: Around The World in Forty Hats Exhibition through August 12, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah
Et Cetera
-- Snowshoe Owling Walk, Friday, 9 p.m., Cottonwood Canyons Foundation
-- The Organ Loft Spring Silent Movie Series, through May 25
|
