The Captains Spyglass: Friday, January 4, 2008

Friday, January 04, 2008

What the Crap!!!, a dead body at the Capital

Body found in basement closet at Capitol dedication
Melinda RogersThe Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/04/2008 03:46:08 PM MST

Posted: 3:34 PM- The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a person found in a basement storage closet at the State Capitol on Friday. The person was discovered during a dedication ceremony for the capitol's renovation this afternoon. Few other details were available. "I just know they have found an individual that has been deceased," said UHP spokesman Cameron Roden, who arrived at the scene shortly before 3:30 p.m. UHP is investigating the incident because the capitol falls under the state's jurisdiction, said Jared Wihongi of the Salt Lake City Police Department.

First hunting, then dad with MLK. Mitt is doomed as the GOP nominee

January 4, 2008
Authenticity Wins

Posted by TOM BEVAN E-Mail This Permalink Email Author

DES MOINES - Clearly, last night was the embodiment of what we've been sensing all along: this is an election about change. But last night was also the triumph of authenticity in both parties: the two winners were candidates who were not the most experienced, did not speak in terribly specific policy terms, but nevertheless were the most real and most sincere in their pitch to - and ultimately in their connection with - the voters of Iowa.

Last night we saw the result of the 'authenticity gap' in this race. Mitt Romney spent $7 million in Iowa touting himself as a candidate of conservative values and came away with only 25% of the vote. Hillary spent $6.7 million trying to portray herself as an agent of change and finished in third place with under thirty percent support. Voters simply did not buy the repackaging of these two candidates and instead opted for candidates who were, to use a cliche, exactly who they said they were.

You can see why this is such a problem for Clinton and Romney moving forward because while the composition of the electorate will change as they move to New Hampshire and beyond, the fundamental weakness of their candidacies will not. Will Clinton or Romney appear any more authentic over the next four days or even the next forty? It's hard to say they will.

The problem is especially acute for Romney, who has just a few days to regroup and retool his message against another candidate brimming with authenticity: John McCain. Romney is now in a do-or-die situation in New Hampshire, and unless he can somehow bridge the authenticity gap in the next four days he could very well finish second - or worse - and find his bid for the presidency critically wounded.

Click on a face for the latest

His promise of change resonates more than Clinton's claim of experience

By Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer January 4, 2008

DES MOINES -- Barack Obama's surprisingly convincing win in Iowa on Thursday upended the Democratic presidential race and overturned some of the fundamental assumptions of modern-day American politics.Voters in an overwhelmingly white state embraced an African American candidate.

Full Story: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-demassess4jan04,1,864994.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=3&cset=true