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Blogger Defends LDS Church
I received a number of interesting comments regarding yesterday’s Monday Musing (scroll down a bit) regarding response to attacks on the LDS Church now that it is in the spotlight because of the Mitt Romney presidential campaign.
One comment came from Utah attorney Ryan Bell, who has created a blog called Romney Experience: Explaining Mitt and Mormonism to an Underinformed World. Wrote Bell:
“My intention is to offer the answers that the Romney Campaign wants to avoid getting into and the LDS Church doesn't pre-emptively offer for itself. I've put up a lot of posts just generally analyzing coverage of the Mormon issue so far, but have also done some more targeted pieces correcting specific errors -- things like accusations that the LDS Church supports Hamas, and that 2% of Utahns are polygamists. I hope to continue offering reliable information to the press and the public regarding Mormonism, the kind of information you note is somewhat lacking at present.” Bell said his blog has received attention from Politico.com and CNN.
Washington Watch
Cannon: Congressional Inquiry 'Not Absolute'
Rep. Chris Cannon says of Pres. Bush's invocation of executive privilege in the US Attorneys firing case: "Many months, thousands of pages, and a score of witnesses ago, the White House made an offer to the Judiciary Committee that would have protected the President's ability to receive candid counsel while allowing the committee to complete its investigation. The President has appropriately decided to protect the internal deliberations of his staff by utilizing the presidential communications privilege rooted in the separation of powers principle. This decision will undoubtedly raise hackles of 'conspiracy' from the usual suspects on Capitol Hill. If those same people would spend as much time getting to the truth as they do in grasping for headlines, this investigation would have concluded months ago. While executive privilege is not absolute, neither is congressional inquiry" (see press release).
Hymas Elected Chair of SL Chamber Board
Scott L. Hymas, CEO of RC Willey, has been elected the Chair of the Chamber Board for the new fiscal year. Says Chamber President and CEO Lane Beattie: "One of the strengths of the Chamber is to have leadership come from many different sectors of our economy. Scott will make sure the Chamber continues to apply the sound principles of business. He has a keen ability to analyze financial realities. His intellect is outstanding as is his dedication to the community. His skills will mesh nicely with the outstanding work of outgoing Chair Keith Rattie. This is a great time for business and the Chamber" (see press release).
Today in Political History
July 10, 1890: Wyoming is admitted as the 44th U.S. state.
July 10, 1940: The 114-day Battle of Britain begins during World Ward II as Nazi forces attack southern England by air. By late October, Britain manages to repel the Luftwaffe, which suffers heavy losses. (New York Times)
July 10, 1991: Boris Yeltsin is sworn in as head of the Russian government. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail. You can safely appeal to the United Nations in the comfortable certainty that it will let you down.”
-- Conor Cruise O'Brien, Irish historian, critic, and statesman (Source: Quotes Exchange)
Communications Tip
Don’t Succumb to Writer’s Block
Writing is hard work. As you tap out words and see your article or story begin to take shape, it’s tempting to stop after every few sentences to go back and review what you’ve written. Don’t! You’ll probably interrupt your thought process. In fact, proofreading or running your spell-checker in the middle of your document is a well-recognized time waster. And many writers are prodigious time wasters! Let’s face it, it’s much easier to rest and check for typos (or clean out the lint trap in the dryer, or brew yet another cup of tea) than to forge ahead, thinking and creating new copy. So, here’s a tip: If you want to take a break and stretch, by all means, go back and edit yourself. If you want to keep on writing, then just stick with it. (Source: Trafalgar)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- New York Times: "In dozens of interviews across the country, voters said the presidential campaign had become much too intense, much too soon. ... [V]oters said they felt overwhelmed by the battle for their attention: the speeches, the attacks, the unceasing news coverage of celebrity candidates, and a fund-raising free-for-all that many described as unseemly."
-- The Hill: "Six months into the 110th Congress and approximately six months before the first primary vote is cast, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is the favorite presidential candidate among members of Congress."
-- OpinionJournal: Columnist John Fund wonders if nostalgia will sweep the Clintons back into the White House.
-- Washington Post: Since becoming Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi has evolved "from a somewhat tentative political figure reliant on a small circle of advisers to the undisputed leader of the House's fractious Democratic majority. ... But if Pelosi has succeeded in uniting her party during her initial months as speaker, she and the rest of the leadership have yet to convince the nation that the Democrats can govern."
Blog Watch
-- At The Senate Site, Sen. Curt Bramble posts a report from China, noting that the Utah delegation's first day of meetings "have made clear that our friendship with the Liaoning Province can be mutually beneficial. They have an increasingly vibrant economy, yet there are specific areas where Utah's expertise, ingenuity, and resources can be of benefit to the province while allowing Utah companies to increase international investment under favorable conditions. We will continue to build our relationships with people here in order to create an environment for Utah businesses, universities, and others to make sure that our inevitably shrinking world turns out to be a better world -- for all of us."
-- Paul Rolly reports that the five finalists to replace retiring John Massey as Legislative Fiscal Analyst "are said to be Jonathon Ball, Mark Bleazard and Steven Allred, all veteran employees with the Fiscal Analyst's Office; Lee Stephens, a former employee of the office; and Cathy Fernandez, deputy director of the New Mexico legislative finance committee staff. I'm told that the smart money is on Ball."
Lighter Side
Favorite Headlines
He Got Out of Stocks for Fear of an October Crash
"Reggie Jackson Saddened by Cloud Hanging Over Bonds"--headline, Reuters, July 7
Resistance Is Futile
"Federer Bests Nadal; Joins Borg"--headline, WGR-AM Web site (Buffalo, N.Y.), July 8
Home Depot Probably Has Them
"Search Resumes for Rafter in Fort Worth"--headline, Associated Press, July 8
Actually, It Was Only a Branch
"Man Robs Bank Disguised as Tree"--headline, WFXT-TV Web site (Boston), July 7
Breaking News From 200 B.C.
"Great Wall Wonder Restores China's National Pride"--headline, Reuters, July 8
Breaking News From 1945
"Art May Have Been Looted by Nazis"--headline, Sydney Morning Herald, July 8 (James Taranto in OpinionJournal.com) |
