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Democrats Back VA Fisher House
The Utah Democratic Party is supporting construction of a VA Fisher House to provide safe, comfortable, and affordable housing for families of veterans being treated by the Salt Lake City VA medical center.
John Forsman, chairman of the Democrats’ Veterans Caucus, said Utahns must get behind the project to make it a reality. The medical center’s Salt Lake City campus is one of 10 recommended sites for construction of a VA Fisher House, which would provide home-away-from home accommodations. “This is one of those projects that the whole state can get behind,” said Ray Bachiller, chairman of Fisher House/Utah.
The VA Fisher House will be a 21-guest suite, 16,000 square foot, two-story home, located on the southwestern portion of the medical center campus. The facility will include common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room, living room with library, and toys for children. Fisher Houses are built through public donations and contributions from the Fisher House Foundation. The Utah community needs to raise at least $500,000 in matching construction funds. For more information, contact Ray Bachiller, 801-430-8762, bachiller1@aol,com; Don Willis, (801) 209-5765; or John Forsman, (801) 560-5982, jfforsman7@xmission.com
Today in Political History
August 22, 1902: President Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first United States chief executive to ride in an automobile. (New York Times)
August 22, 1992: Federal agents kill Randy Weaver's wife in a protracted standoff at Ruby Ridge, Idaho. Weaver's son and a marshal were also killed in the siege. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person’s life.”
-- William Wordsworth
Campaign Tip
Branding Your Campaign
A critical component of every campaign’s outreach efforts is the development and execution of a relevant, consistent, and well-managed brand. There is, however, a lot of confusion about what a brand actually is.
A brand is not a logo, a website, or a brochure. A brand is the promise that your campaign is making. It is demonstrated by your campaign logo, slogan, website, brochures, and direct mail campaigns. Further, it is demonstrated by the way your staff answers the phones, the way you conduct yourself during public events, and the way you thank donors. It is infused into all actions and interactions. It is the One Single Idea that ties all of your messages together. (Source: Complete Campaigns)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Gallup News Service: "A new Gallup Poll finds Congress' approval rating the lowest it has been since Gallup first tracked public opinion of Congress with this measure in 1974. Just 18% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, while 76% disapprove, according to the August 13-16, 2007, Gallup Poll."
-- New York Times: "Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton told an audience of war veterans on Monday that some elements of the strategy in Iraq appeared to be achieving success, but said a military solution was unattainable and the best way to honor the service of American troops was to 'bring them home.'"
-- The Politico: "What success Mike Huckabee has found as a presidential candidate stems largely from his homespun charm ... But if the former Arkansas governor wants to find greater success and become a first-tier player in the Republican primary race, he faces having to turn his wise-cracking image on its head and start trying to turn attack dog."
-- Wall Street Journal: Columnist Fred Barnes: "It's not particularly visible at the moment, but there is a road to political recovery for Republicans. Chances are they won't get far enough down it to recapture the House or Senate or even hold the White House in 2008. But they might."
Blog Watch
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart, in response to this Trib article, notes: "The richest part of [SL County school district splits] debate ... is Salt Lake City residents griping that their money might help educate kids on the west side. The injustice! However, there's apparently nothing wrong with requiring those west side families to pay for Salt Lake City concerns, like better air conditioning for the polar bears at the Hogle Zoo, under the county-wide ZAP tax, instead of the Salt Lake City property tax. Kids -- polar bears. School buildings for children -- air conditioning at the zoo. Hmm. Priorities, priorities."
-- Arianna Huffington blames the Utah mining disaster on Karl Rove.
Lighter Side
"The trouble with telling good story is that it invariably reminds the other fellow of a dull one."
-- Sid Caeser (Salt Lake Tribune Cryptoquote)
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