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Wouldn’t It Be Nice If . . .
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update takes a break from regular economic analysis this week and features “Wouldn't It Be Nice If......the campaign for the American presidency didn't start sooooo early ...America's silent majority (our parents and grandparents) received greater respect for the enormous wartime sacrifices they made to help protect the freedoms we all enjoy today ...various state experiments in health care reform provided real promise for the nation ...’reality’ TV would die a quick death.
CPPA Newsletter
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This edition looks at Utah's "affordable housing squeeze" and at how education can address poverty and produce family sustaining earnings.
Washington Watch
Hatch Oversees Western Firefight
Sen. Orrin Hatch and other western senators summon "Jim Hughes, acting director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to the Capitol to determine what they can do at a federal level to help battle the wildfires raging through rural and wilderness areas" (see press release).
Matheson Secures Public Safety $$
Rep. Jim Matheson secures funding for "projects benefiting community safety and at-risk youth" as part of annual Commerce, Justice, Science spending measure (see press release).
Cannon Defends White House
In a statement before the hearing on contempt resolutions for Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten, Rep. Chris Cannon said: We’ve investigated this matter for months, and I believe that the key facts point inescapably to one conclusion – we don’t need to force a constitutional showdown over contempt and executive privilege to know that the White House was not involved in wrongdoing in the dismissal of the U.S. Attorneys. As I said when subpoenas were first considered, the only purpose of subpoenas issued to the White House was to fan the flames and photo-ops of partisan controversy, for partisan gain.” (read entire statement; view YouTube video of Cannon statement)
Today in Political History
July 26, 1947: President Harry Truman signs the National Securities Act, creating the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Council and the Joint Chiefs. (Source: NBC5)
Wise Words
“I am the first acknowledged comedian to receive a vote for the Presidency—not the first comedian, mind you, but the first acknowledged one.”
—Will Rogers (Source: Patriot Post)
Campaign Tip
Dealing With Bloggers
The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has produced a 39-page Internet guide for GOP candidates, which says blogs are a candidate’s canary. Treat them "as an 'early warning system' to help discern if an opponent's attacks are gaining traction," the guide says. (Source: Politico)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- New York Times: "Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sharply criticized Senator Barack Obama for the first time yesterday as inexperienced on national security, calling him 'irresponsible and frankly naïve' for saying he would be willing to meet without preconditions with leaders of Iran, North Korea and three other nations during his first year as president."
-- The Politico: "Though he has not yet even declared he is running for president, Fred Thompson shook up his team Tuesday amid fears he was losing momentum and needed an injection of talent."
-- Los Angeles Times: Columnist Ronald Brownstein says Rudy Giuliani's proposal to let the states decide on social issues such as abortion and gay rights make him the '08 presidential race's "federalist candidate."
-- Washington Post: "President Bush is a competitive guy. But this is one contest he would rather lose. With 18 months left in office, he is in the running for most unpopular president in the history of modern polling."
Blog Watch
-- At The Senate Site, Sen. Lyle Hillyard says: "Last Wednesday during interim, Senate leadership heard from the Commissioner of Agriculture, Leonard Blackham, and the Governor's office about the urgency to respond to the damage caused by the wildfires this summer. ... I don't think many of us realize how damaging these fires have been to the land, the owners and the air. This string of fires has reminded me of how important it is that we have state leaders who not only care about their positions but live with the people who are affected by this tragedy so the response is not just monetary but compassionate to unify the people to help to mitigate everyone's damages."
-- In response to this Deseret Morning News editorial, Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "The D News editorial board does not have moral superiority because it believes we should ignore the issue of illegal immigration. Board members simply have an opinion -- one that is simplistic and not tethered to a factual basis. My opinion is that illegal immigration is an important issue and should be addressed. How should we address it? I'm searching for options; that isn't accomplished by outlawing dialogue and inquiry."
-- Rep. Chris Cannon says: "I hope everyone got a chance to catch Nightside on Friday night. I have to thank everyone at the show for their hospitality, patience, and indulgence for a radio novice like myself. I hope their backs are ok as they were carrying me most of the night, but I enjoyed myself immensely. You can listen to the show I was on and others here. The bipartisan intellect and humor on Nightside is great for the debate and always makes for a good time."
-- At The Wall of Separation, Lauren Smith says of Utah's upcoming voucher referendum: "The choice Utah voters will face this fall is not limited to whether parents can send their children to private schools on the taxpayer's dime. Indeed, underlying each voter's choice will be a vote for or against the separation of church and state."
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
Conan O’Brien: Last [week] the Senate held an all-night session. Sen. Hillary Clinton gave a speech at four in the morning. It was the first time Hillary gave a speech at four in the morning that didn’t begin with, ‘Where the hell have you been?”’
Jay Leno: According to a new Zogby poll, the new Congress has hit another historic low—14 percent of people approve of Congress. And that’s just the hookers who work for the DC madam. ... Al Gore’s lovely daughter Sarah got married over the weekend. Critics are now bashing Al Gore for serving Chilean sea bass at his daughter’s wedding, because it is an endangered species. In his defense, whenever Al Gore picks up a knife and fork, any species is endangered. ... Next month, right here in Los Angeles, the leading Democratic presidential candidates will hold a gay debate—it will be a televised debate to discuss just gay issues. Well, how much is John Edwards going to spend on his hair for that? ... John Edwards is continuing his “Poverty Tour” around America. Today he visited with a group of people who get their hair cut at a place called “a barber shop.” He was horrified at their stories. ... John Edwards has a new TV commercial touting him as a tough guy. His wife says he has unbelievable toughness. And he is tough. Like in the ad, it says sometimes he shampoos his hair and then skips the conditioner completely and goes commando. (Source: Patriot Post) |
