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Washington Watch
Cannon, Hatch Comment on Speech
Rep. Chris Cannon and Sen. Orrin Hatch released statements in response to Pres. Bush’s speech to the nation on Iraq.
Cannon: “The American people are rightfully frustrated with the Maliki government and the slow pace of political progress in Iraq. However, the President clearly understands that retreat, no matter what euphemism it is cloaked in, is not a strategy. The fact is Iraq is the central front in the war against jihadism. For the sake of our children and our way of life, it is a war that we cannot afford to lose. The sooner the Democrat leadership starts listening to General Petraeus instead of kowtowing to moveon.org, the sooner we can bring the troops home cloaked in victory and assured that Al Qaeda knows that Americans will not accept defeat at the hands of extremism.”
Hatch: “It was important that the President spoke directly to the American people about the progress we are making in Iraq. With all the spin on the airwaves, I think a lot of people missed General Petraeus’s main point: that our new strategy, in large part, is working. That is the conclusion I reached during my recent trip to Iraq. There have been dramatic improvements in al Anbar province and steady advances in Baghdad.”
Matheson: FAA Plan Dead
Rep. Jim Matheson announces that "the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has responded to his June 20th letter asking if a questionable flight path redesign may be reconsidered with a letter saying the plan is officially dead" (see press release).
Hispanic Chamber Wins Award
World Trade Center Utah's newsletter, Global Utah, says the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be awarded the Medium-sized Chamber Award of the Year at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce national convention in Puerto Rico, Sept. 19 - 22, and Silvia Norman, Wells Fargo Bank - Utah, Vice President - Latino Manager, will receive the Corporate Advocate of the Year Award at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce national convention. Read the newsletter here.
Loan Fund Expands
The Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund (UMLF) has expanded its loan program. As of October 1, 2007, entrepreneurs who are unable to access traditional sources of funding, and who are located anywhere in UMLF's nine county service area, can apply for up to $25,000 from the UMLF. Read more about microenterprise loans and other business news in the Zions Bank Business Resource Center newsletter.
Today in Political History
September 14, 1901: President William McKinley, 58, dies from an assassin's bullet and Theodore Roosevelt takes charge.
September 14, 1950: U.S. forces, under UN sanction, invade Korea at Inchon in response to the earlier invasion of South Korea by North Korea. (Source: Perspicuity)
Sept. 14, 1959: The Soviet space probe Luna 2 becomes the first man-made object to reach the moon as it crashes onto the lunar surface. (New York Times)
Wise Words
“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
-- Samuel Adams (Source: Quotes Exchange)
Utah History Spotlight
Greek Pioneer in Utah
Leonidas Skliris, listed in Census figures of 1900, opened opportunities in Utah to his countrymen. Skliris had learned railroad construction on a Midwest railroad gang and saw the opportunity to make a great amount of money by providing the labor needed for extensions of railroad branch lines and the changing of narrow gauge to standard gauge rails. The subsidiaries of the railroads, the coal mines in Carbon County that were constantly opening new veins, as well as Bingham Canyon's enormous increase in copper production, required thousands of men -- the cheap labor American unions decried. Skliris also provided strikebreakers, often the first role of immigrants in the western United States. (Read the entire article at Utah.Edu)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- FOXNews: Columnist Susan Estrich: "The Democrats, especially the Democrats running for president, have a problem, and his name is Petraeus."
-- The Hill: "Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) said Thursday that he is asking The New York Times for the 'same heavily discounted rate they gave MoveOn.org' for his campaign to run an ad in Friday's paper. Giuliani, calling MoveOn.org's controversial 'General Betray Us' ad 'abominable,' said his campaign is asking the paper for a comparable rate for an ad to run following President Bush's speech on Iraq."
-- The Politico: "The liberal dream is suddenly within reach: a Senate with enough Democrats after the 2008 elections to create a muscular governing majority for a progressive agenda for the first time in a generation. Harry Reid's mission is to make the liberal dream come true. Among his likely impediments: liberal activists with little patience for the kind of delicate political positioning that will be needed for victory."
-- Washington Post: Columnist George Will: "Fred Thompson's plunge into the presidential pool -- more belly-flop than swan dive -- was the strangest product launch since that of New Coke in 1985. Then the question was: Is this product necessary?"
Blog Watch
-- The Senate Site notes: "The Center for Digital Government just announced the 2007 Best of the Web Awards. First Place: Utah. Again. First state to win twice. More here and here. Kudos to Dave Fletcher and the Utah.gov web team."
-- At UtahSenateDemocrats, Sen. Mike Dmitrich says: "Congratulations to House Minority Leader Ralph Becker on Tuesday's victory in the Salt Lake City mayoral primary. ... The upside is that if Ralph is elected mayor, Salt Lake City will benefit from his knowledge and expertise. The downside is that if Ralph is elected mayor, Capitol Hill will lose an outstanding legislator. On behalf of the Senate Democrats, I congratulate Ralph and his fine election team. As I mentioned to Ralph yesterday in my congratulatory phone call, I wish him luck in representing the second best city in Utah!"
Lighter Side
“It’s just like getting up and going on the tractor.”
-- U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat and farmer from Montana, on presiding over the Senate from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. (Campaigns & Elections magazine)
Casual Friday
Utah Fishing Report
The Strawberry Valley Wildlife Festival is Fri/Sat (Sept 14-15) at the Forest Service visitor center on Hwy 40 at the Strawberry turnoff. The Strawberry River flows past and it should offer good views of fluorescent red spawning kokanee salmon. The festival offers clinics, information and fun. DWR biologists will be there to talk to the public.
Kokanee are just starting to move up the Strawberry River and some can be seen at the nearby fish trap. Kokanee will also be moving up Sheep Creek at Flaming Gorge. Kokanee fishing is good right now at the Gorge. Some big, hook-jawed fish are being caught. At Strawberry only a few kokanee are being caught -- the fish are more elusive there. Causey Reservoir also has decent kokanee fishing.
Elsewhere, fish are responding to the cooler weather. The next few weeks will bring very good action if you adjust techniques to follow the fish. See Dave Webb's full report for details.
Outdoors Report
-- Morning News lures in some cool weather fishing
-- Great Salt Lake Nature Center opens in the Tribune
-- Grand Am Sunchaser race pushing the limits in the Morning News
-- Discover the Uinta’s Packard Lake 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 Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- The Brave One: Tribune review
Concerts
-- China Central TV’s Galaxy Children’s Choir, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- George Dyer, Friday, 8 p.m., Sandy Amphitheater
-- Utah State Fair Music Competition First Place Winners, Saturday, 7:30 p.m, Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- “Proving Ground,” Dance Theatre Coalition, Saturday, 8 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- Moab Music Festival, through September 15
-- The Fourteenth Annual Eccles Organ Festival, Sundays, 8 p.m., through November 4, Cathedral of the Madeleine
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “Julius Caesar” through September 15, Actors’ Repertory Theatre Ensemble, Provo
-- “Something’s Afoot” through September 15, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT” through September 16, Capitol Theatre
-- “Charley’s Aunt” through September 22, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” through September 22, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo
-- “The Foreigner” through September 27, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Blithe Spirit” through September 29, Face Theatre Company
-- “Johnny Guitar, the Musical” through September 29, Grand Theatre
-- “The Man of La Mancha” through September 29, Heritage Theatre, Perry
-- “The Secret Garden” through September 29, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “The Foreigner” through October 6, St. George Musical Theatre
-- “The Sound of Music” through October 6, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Moonlight & Magnolias” through October 7, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Cinderella” through October 17, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “My Fair Lady” through October 19, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “42nd Street” through October 20, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “Art” through October 26, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “It's Showtime!” through October 27, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “The Mousetrap” through October 27, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Tempest” through October 27, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Twist the Night Away” through October 28, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Spamlet, Where Mystery Meats Comedy” through November 10, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Minerva Teichert: Pageants in Paint Exhibition, Brigham Young University Museum of Art
-- Life After Death: New Leipzig Paintings from the Rubell Family Collection Exhibition, through September 29, Salt Lake Art Center
Et Cetera
-- Utah State Fair, through September 16, Utah State Fairpark
-- Oktoberfest, through October 7, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market, Saturdays through October 20, 8 a.m., Pioneer Park
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival, through October 27, Cedar City
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