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Washington Watch
Hatch Praises Capecchi
Sen. Orrin Hatch says of Dr. Mario Capecchi of the University of Utah, who received the Nobel Prize for medicine: "This is truly an honor of the highest degree for a brilliant scientist who has devoted his life to bettering mankind. I am honored to have had the opportuity to discuss Dr. Capecchi's work with him on many occasions, and have only the highest praise for him and for his dedication, perseverance and intellect" (see press release).
Jack Sunderlage Profile
The latest edition of Global Utah, World Trade Center Utah's weekly newsletter, features a nice profile of Jack Sunderlage, CEO of ContentWatch and Chairman of the World Trade Center Utah Board. Also within the newsletter is a column about how to export to regional markets, tips on export compliance, and a variety of other interesting information.
Martin Van Buren and the Mormons
In a famous meeting with Joseph Smith in 1840, Van Buren declared “Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you, or else I’ll lose the vote of Missouri.” Disgusted, Joseph Smith says later, “Van Buren was not as fit as my dog for the chair of state; for my dog will make an effort to help, but Van Buren will not so much as lift his finger.” (From Mike Winder’s Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church)
Today in Political History
October 10, 1973: Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns after being charged with bribery and tax evasion.
October 10, 2000: 2000 President Bill Clinton signs the Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.”
-- Mark Twain (Source: Quotes Exchange)
Campaign Tip
Form Fundraising Committee
By Kenneth S. Christensen
Candidates are always searching for new ways to raise money, but in reality there are only a few solid ways of raising money for campaigns. Campaigns must focus on realistic, manageable and efficient fundraising programs.
One such program is the establishment of an Executive Finance Committee -- a group of individuals who will raise money for the campaign through their contacts and associations. Usually the first committee members are personal friends of the candidate and business colleagues.
The more people who get involved in raising money for your campaign, the better. The committee should include all of the candidate’s contacts who are willing to help with fundraising. (Read the entire article at Political Resources)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- The Hill: "Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) emerged from Tuesday afternoon’s Republican debate, his first, having delivered a solid performance free of major gaffes and largely unscathed by rivals."
-- Wall Street Journal: "New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is reaching out to middle-class voters with an expanded economic agenda, returning to Iowa just as polls for the first time have shown her leading Democratic rivals there."
-- New York Times: "Senator Barack Obama presented a plan on Monday to decrease the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and fight global warming by creating an auction system requiring power companies and other industries to pay for their pollution. By the year 2020, he said, emissions would be reduced to levels from 1990."
-- The Politico: "Congressional Democrats rode anti-war sentiment to victory last fall -- but they are staking their success in the final months of this year's calendar on more traditional domestic issues amid concern that the war may not be the potent political issue it once was by Election Day 2008."
Vouchers Boost Performance
According to The Sutherland Institute, "[m]ultiple studies show school vouchers boost the academic achievement of students, especially those in the minority population. The studies, conducted by sixteen different researchers, found evidence that students who have accepted vouchers in Milwaukee, Charlotte, Dayton, New York City, and Washington, D.C. have achieved higher scores on standardized tests when compared to their peers who remained in public schools" (see press release).
Blog Watch
-- At The Senate Site, Sen. John Valentine discusses his recent trip to Turkey and the Kyrgyz Republic.
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart notes that "all 6 candidates for St. George City Council have taken prominent and strong positions on illegal immigration. ... In my view, 3 of the candidates (Almquist, Pike, and Shakespeare) are taking a tack that could be effective (working with other levels of government to secure increased ICE agents, better identity verification, and enforcement). The other 3 seem to be pandering to the loudest, most unhinged voices, and are proposing actions that would involve the City in silly, losing lawsuits that would do nothing to further any meaningful agenda (think of LaVerkin's United Nations-free zone or Virgin's mandatory gun ownership laws)."
-- At Out of Context, Robert Gehrke reports: "You know The Gov and John McCain are total BFF, right? Well guess what! So are their daughters. Awesome! Whoohoo! Mary Anne Huntsman is joining the McCain Blogette Team. That totally rocks, right? You haven't heard of the McCain Blogette Team? ... It's, like, the totally coolest thing among the young professional set. Duh! Go check it: http://mccainblogette.com/. It's about 90 percent peppy enthusiasm, 13 percent brain mashingly poor grammar, 12 percent pics of Team McCain, 11 percent pandering to 18- to 30-year old voters, 9 percent unnecessary exclamation points! and, from the looks of it, 10 percent peroxide. ... Before it was Meghan McCain, the daughter; La-Toria Haven, 'political fashionista'; and Heather Brand, who does the pics: 'We are friends bound by a passion for politics, pop culture, fashion and our adventurous spirits.' And now! With Mary Anne! It's epic! Check it out! You get to see Sen. McCain's gold Razr phone. I'm SO jealous!"
Lighter Side
Natting Nabobs
Vice President Spiro Agnew (who resigned 34 years ago today) was known as President Richard Nixon’s “hatchet man” for his tough criticisms of political opponents, especially journalists and anti-Vietnam War activists. He was known for attacking his opponents with unusual, often alliterative epithets, some of which were coined by White House speech-writers William Safire and Pat Buchanan. He called journalists "nattering nabobs of negativism”, and "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history". He deemed members of the media “an effete corps of impudent snobs” and called opponents “pusillanimous pussyfoots.” (Wikipedia) |
