On to New Hampshire
How big a boost will their wins in Iowa give Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee in New Hampshire, and in the national polls? We’ll soon find out. Traditionally, primary voters in New Hampshire haven’t been influenced a great deal by what happens in Iowa.
Clearly, Iowa was enormous for Obama. His win is the big story of the day. Most pundits are saying that Huckabee still has to show he is a viable national candidate, that he has appeal beyond the evangelicals of Iowa. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney must have a good showing in New Hampshire or his campaign is mortally wounded.
Final Dispatch From the Front
Silver Medal
Jared Whitley, who works for Sen. Orrin Hatch in Washington, D.C., took personal time to volunteer for Mitt Romney in Iowa this week. Here is an excerpt from his last dispatch posted at Rapier Whit: “Romney won the Urbandale 4 precinct, which was a fun thrill for the campaign volunteers who attended to watch. However, the news on the radio as we drove to the Romney "victory" party told a different tale. … And so my Iowa caucus 2008 experience comes to a conclusion. I'm cautiously optimistic about the primaries that still lie ahead of Mitt Romney.”
Huntsman: Safest of the Safe
Lou Jacobson, in a Stateline.org article, ranks the 11 gubernatorial races in 2008, based on how safe or vulnerable the incumbents and parties are. Gov. Jon Huntsman is so safe he merited only a mention in the last paragraph of the story: “None of the limited pool of rising-star Democrats in Utah is foolhardy enough to take on the Beehive State’s wildly popular governor, Jon Huntsman (R), as he seeks a second — and reportedly final — term.”
Huge Investment Sums
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week looks at the impact of Sovereign Wealth Funds, the “vast and enormous pools of money that have been and are accumulating in various locations around the globe.” Thredgold also looks at the 2008 global economic picture: “Most forecasts for global economic performance this year (yes...2008) have real (inflation adjusted) growth slowing slightly. Expected overall slowing is tied to more sluggish performance in the U.S. and Europe, while the Pacific Rim continues to grow at an impressive pace.”
Time to Set Goals
If strategic planning and goal setting aren’t your forte, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce wants to help. The Chamber is sponsoring a goal-setting workshop on January 16. You can read more about the Chamber's workshop in this week's issue of Taking Care of Business, the Zions Bank Business Resource Center newsletter.
Today in Political History
Jan. 4, 1896: Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.
Jan. 4, 1965: President Lyndon Johnson outlines the proposals of his "Great Society" in his State of the Union address. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“Liberty is not to be enjoyed, indeed it cannot exist, without the habits of just subordination; it consists, not so much in removing all restraint from the orderly, as in imposing it on the violent.”
-- Fisher Ames, Essay on Equality (Source: Patriot Post)
Utah History/Symbols
State Tree
The blue spruce (Picea pungens) was chosen by the Utah State Legislature on 20 Feb. 1933 to be the official Utah State tree. Adoption of the official tree was made in record time after the bill, sponsored by the Utah Federation of Women's Clubs, had been introduced with the urgent request that it be passed before the Colorado legislature could pass a similar bill making the blue spruce that state's official tree. While the blue spruce is not plentiful in Utah, it is found in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains at elevations between 6,000 to 11,000 feet. It can be transplanted successfully and is widely used as an ornamental tree. It's foliage is generally silvery blue in color, and the tree has the ability to withstand temperature extremes and drought.
The blue spruce is not a large tree: it ranges from 8 to 100 feet in height and grows to two feet in diameter. Under optimum conditions, a blue spruce may reach a maximum of 150 feet in height and four feet in diameter. The brittle and knotty wood of the tree is of little commercial value. The chief use of the tree is for ornamental landscaping of homes, schools, and public buildings. (Source: Utah.Edu)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- USA Today: "Long-shot Republican candidate Mike Huckabee declared 'a new day in American politics' Thursday after riding strong support from evangelical Christians into a decisive victory in the Iowa caucuses."
-- Associated Press: "A victorious Barack Obama portrayed his decisive first-place finish in the Iowa Democratic caucuses as a 'defining moment' that he said would lead the way to change in Washington and an end to the war in Iraq."
-- The Politico: Obama "heads out of Iowa as the biggest news story in the world and a force that strategists for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) are uncertain how to stop."
-- New York Times: Iowa caucus voters "rewarded upstart candidates over the establishment's picks."
Blog Watch
-- Paul Rolly reports: "Salt Lake City Mayor-elect Ralph Becker appears to be heading in a new direction when it comes to lobbying other governmental entities -- particularly the Utah Legislature -- on issues affecting the city. Becker, who will be inaugurated Monday, is cutting ties with outside lobbyist Craig Peterson and his $40,000 to $50,000 annual contract. Instead the lobbying duties will be put on the shoulders of incoming full-time staffer Ben McAdams, who Becker has tabbed as his governmental relations officer."
Lighter Side
News You Can Use
(From James Taranto’s Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.com)
-- "Daily Alcohol Use Causes Changes in Sexual Behavior in Adult Male Flies"--headline, press release, Pennsylvania State University, Jan. 3
-- "Coping With Helplessness Best Done Alone"--headline, United Press International, Jan. 1
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
Fish Lake now has safe ice and offers good fishing for splake, rainbows, small lake trout and small perch. It will be one of our better fishing spots during the next few weeks.
Perch are now a popular target, as they are relatively easy to catch through the ice. We've heard reports of good action for nice sized perch at Yuba, Deer Creek and Rockport. Here are tips for icing perch and other panfish.
At Jordanelle, the Rock Cliffs area has safe ice and fair fishing for rainbows and perch. The main lake now has a cap of ice and it will probably become safe during the next week. Fishing success should pick up as more ice is accessible to fishermen.
Strawberry has safe ice over the entire lake and offers consistently good fishing. Flaming Gorge has ice on the north end and is a good choice. Most of our trout and perch waters will offer good ice fishing during the coming weeks.
Wildlife Board Meeting
Rules for Utah's 2008 black bear hunts and plans to guide the management of otters and prairie dogs are among the items the Utah Wildlife Board is expected to approve at its Jan. 8 meeting in Salt Lake City. The meeting begins at 9 am in the DNR Auditorium in Salt Lake City. The public is encouraged to attend. See the agenda.
Outdoors Report
-- Bighorn sheep ride to a new home in the Tribune
-- Favorite ski runs in the Morning News
-- Tribune finds adventure in Ogden
-- Morning News on Utah resorts’ newest runs and lifts
--- Visit the desert in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- 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
Concerts
-- Dvořák’s Seventh, Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Metropolitan Opera auditions, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah, free
-- Savion Glover, tap, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Eccles Center for the Performing Arts, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City, $18-$65
-- “Twelfth Night: An After-Christmas Celebration,” Phoenix Rising Choir, American Fork Children's Choir and soprano Clara Hurtado Lee, Saturday, 7 p.m., Alpine Tabernacle, 100 E. State, American Fork, free
-- “Rhythm of Ireland,” Celtic dance, through January 12, SCERA Center
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “Gingrinch: A Parody” through January 5, Desert Star Theatre
-- “Don’t Drink the Water” through February 9, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Lend Me a Tenor” through February 9, Hale Centre Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Andy Warhol’s Dream America Exhibition through January 6, Cinderella: Masks, Magic, and Mirrors Exhibition through March 31, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-- SF Recycled and Masters of West Coast Assemblage and Collage Exhibitions through January 26, David Kimball Anderson: To Morris Graves Exhibition through February 2, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Minerva Teichert: Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art
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