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Washington Watch
Primary Challengers for Cannon?
Four prominent Utah Republicans "say they are taking seriously looks at entering the 2008 contest in the 3rd Congressional District. The potential contenders are David Leavitt, brother of Health and Human Services Secretary (and former Utah governor) Michael O. Leavitt; John Jacob, an immigration hardliner who challenged Cannon in 2006, received more delegate votes than the incumbent at the state Republican convention, but lost the primary by 56 percent to 44 percent; Jason Chaffetz, a longtime political associate to current Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.; and Merrill Cook, who served in the House from 1997 to 2001 and became best-known during that time for his stormy personality" (Congressional Quarterly/New York Times).
Hatch Hails Stem Cell Bill Vote
Sen. Orrin Hatch says of the House's passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act by a vote of 247-176: "Each year support grows for the use of federal funds to support ethical embryonic stem cell research. This year that support may be strong enough finally to enact legislation. If not, I think it will be soon" (see press release); Hatch joins legislative efforts to promote greater use of geothermal energy by cosponsoring the National Geothermal Initiative Act of 2007, which would "authorize new funds for research and application of geothermal energy, with the goal that by 2030 geothermal should constitute at least 20 percent of the total electrical energy production in the U.S" (press release).
Today in Political History
June 8, 1861: Tennessee secedes from the Union.
June 8, 1967: The USS Liberty is attacked for over two hours in international waters by the air and naval forces of Israel, using rockets, torpedoes, and napalm. 34 crew members die and 171 are wounded (Source: perspicuity)
Wise Words
“The ordinary man is passive. Within a narrow circle, home life, and perhaps the trade unions or local politics, he feels himself master of his fate. But otherwise he simply lies down and lets things happen to him.”
—George Orwell (Source: Patriot Post)
Utah Trivia/ History
Kanab: Utah’s Little Hollywood
From a 1946 report – “We are all familiar with the Cinderella story of the glamour girl who gained Hollywood fame overnight. But, have you ever heard of a whole town - its inhabitants and buildings, trees and fields, and even the chickens that cross its roads - enjoying a successful movie career? Kanab Utah is such a place!
“Zane Grey had written his first successful novels in Kanab. These books inspired Tom Mix and Buck Jones (among other western stars) to ask the Parry brothers, of Kanab, to arrange a few location trips for them. When Tom Mix brought his wonder horse Tony to Utah for the filming of Deadwood Coach in 1922, the Parry brothers took a hand in the film.” (Read more in About.com)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- Washington Post: "The [proposed immigration reform bill] survived its most serious challenges [Wednesday], when the Senate defeated amendments to disqualify hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from legalization and to extend visas to hundreds of thousands more relatives of U.S. citizens and green-card holders. But just after midnight, the Senate approved by a single vote an amendment to shut down the bill's proposed guest-worker program after five years. The 49 to 48 vote, coming just days after the Senate cut the size of the guest-worker program in half, could upset the delicate bipartisan balance behind the deal."
-- Des Moines Register: "The future of the Ames Republican straw poll was cast into doubt Wednesday after first Rudy Giuliani and then John McCain decided to skip the high-profile summer warm-up to Iowa's leadoff presidential nominating caucuses" (see also related John McIntyre column).
-- The Politico: "Only a few months ago, political operatives were speculating whether Sen. Barack Obama could come close to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's daunting fundraising machine. Now Team Obama is the legend, and the question is whether the junior senator from New York can keep up."
-- Roll Call: Columnist Stuart Rothenburg says "Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill [have] played the [Iraq War] issue like a Stradivarius. They forced a vote on a deadline for withdrawal from Iraq, putting Republicans on record supporting the status quo and President Bush, but allowed a subsequent vote to 'fund the troops.' ... From a purely political point of view, Democrats had their cake and ate it too. Yes, the war is unpopular, and opposing it is a no-brainer. But the one thing Democrats need to avoid is looking like themselves during the 1970s and 1980s -- weak and unwilling to support America's men and women in uniform. ... So, in ignoring the demands of the party's left, Congressional leaders have kept their party right where they want it -- against the war but also against terrorists and for the troops."
Blog Watch
-- At Out of Context, Matt Canham reports: "Utah Democrats sent out a scathing press release Thursday evening denouncing the 'arrogance on steroids' Republican leaders have shown on the voucher debate. Exhibit A -- Attorney General Mark Shurtleff 'firing' two Special Assistant Attorneys General who gave legal advice he didn't like. Only one problem. Shurtleff didn't fire them. He couldn't. They work for the state Office of Education. Shurtleff did revoke their 'special assistant attorney general' status because of what he said was an the increasingly hostile relationship between the two offices" (for more on the voucher issue, see The Senate Site, Steve Urquhart, Under The Dome, SLCSpin, A Liberal Mormon, and The Bivings Report).
-- After "meeting with the counties and Lieutenant Governor regarding the upcoming municipal election and the addition of the school voucher referendum issue to the statewide ballot in November," ULCT lobbyist Lincoln Shurtz gives "the 'scoop' on what Utah cities and towns can expect for the 2007 municipal primary (September 11, 2007) AND general election (November 6, 2007)."
-- Rep. John Dougall is endorsing Stan Lockhart for Republican Party chairman.
-- Holly Mullen shares some inside baseball on why "editorial staffers have been leaving the Trib in greater numbers than anyone can remember."
-- Paul Rolly reports: "Republican activist Mark Towner blamed me for blowing up his planned Pirates of the Caribbean-themed fund-raiser for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. He was a good sport about it, but was disappointed that Shurtleff deep-sixed his idea after I questioned one part of the fund-raiser: the wench auction. Shurtleff quickly called me to let me know he never OK'd a wench auction. But Towner went back to the drawing board and has come up with a Shurtleff-approved event for Republican delegates and their families. It will not be a fund-raiser, but just a party for the delegates, including a free screening of the movie at the Jordan Commons Complex at 5:30. The party will start at 3:30 and delegates and their families are invited to attend in pirate costumes. Senate President John Valentine will be there, dressed as 'Long John Valentine.' The event is planned as a convention-eve gala, with the organizing convention convening Saturday."
Lighter Side
"Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life…violence and committee meetings."
—George F. Will (Source: Tea Leaf)
Casual Friday
Dave Webb’s Fishing Report
There’s so much good fishing going on right now, it is hard to know where to start. I’ve seen reports of great action from all around the state. The famous waters -- including Lake Powell, Strawberry, Green River and the Provo River -- are fishing very well but so are most other reservoirs and streams. To show the diversity, there are reports of very good action at Pineview for tiger muskie, Deer Creek for walleye, and Electric Lake and the Duchesne River for various species of trout. I link to those and others from my latest fishing report.
Outdoors Report
-- Reminisce with the Morning News about fishing in Utah
-- Hook a record fish this summer in the Tribune
-- Utah’s top fishing spots in the Morning News
-- Morning News on the popularity of urban fishing
-- Visit the Grove Creek Loop in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Biking events around the state in the Morning News
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notes and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films
-- Ocean’s Thirteen: Tribune review
-- Surf’s Up: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Pulse 31 Dance Studio, Friday, 7 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- “Broadway Babies,” Salt Lake Men's Choir, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Kingsbury Hall, U.
-- Lawrence Vincent, voice, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, Brigham Young University, Provo, free
-- Unstrung, bluegrass, Friday, 8 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park
-- Briana Wright, oboe, Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, free
-- Amanda Meyer, media music, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, free
-- Lark & Spur, jazz, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College
-- U. Singers, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Lunch Bunch Concert Series, weekdays, noon, Gallivan Plaza
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “1776” through June 30, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Phantom of the Grand Ol' Opry” through June 9, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through June 9, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown” through June 16, dates and times vary, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU
-- “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” through June 17, Wasatch Theatre Company
-- “The Secret Garden” through June 23, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Nunsense A-Men,” Desert Star Theatre
-- “Backstage” through June 25, Valley Center Playhouse, Lindon
-- “Fiddler on the Roof” through July 2, Empress Theatre
-- “Les Miserables” through July 7, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” through August 4, Hale Center Theater, Orem
-- “Saturday's Voyeur: The Rocky Show” through August 12, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “The Taffetas,” Desert Star Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Albert Tissandier: Drawings of Nature and Industry in the United States Exhibition, Museum of Utah Art & History through June 30
-- 83rd Annual Spring Salon, Springville Museum of Art, through July 8
-- 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
-- Scottish Festival & Highland Games, Friday and Saturday, Thanksgiving Point
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market, Saturdays through October 20, 8 a.m., Pioneer Park
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