Mt. HOLLY Club announces Ted Ligety as Ski director

MT. HOLLY, Utah, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Mt. Holly Club, the world's finest private luxury ski and golf resort, today announced that Ted Ligety, Olympic gold medal skier and World Cup champion, will serve as the club's director of skiing operations. Ligety will oversee growth of this unique ski-in/ski-out private resort -- the mirror image of the golf-in/golf-out capability members enjoy in the summer playing the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club golf course.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,67235.shtml

The Spyglass

Giuliani Has Uniquely Broad Based Political Appeal

February 26, 2007
Giuliani Has Uniquely Broad Based Political Appeal
Clinton's popularity concentrated with Democrats
by Lydia Saad

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Recent USA Today/Gallup presidential heats measures indicate the 2008 election is not going to be easy for either party. Various pairings of the leading Republican and Democratic contenders generally result in extremely close races. If such early indications are correct, to win, the candidates may need to maximize their support from all sides: their political base, political independents, and even members of the opposing party.

Full details of the poll http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=26680

The Spyglass

2008 Republican Presidential Primary: Giuliani 33% McCain 17% Gingrich 13%

Wakeup call for Mitt. Gingrich is ahead of Romney, and Newt has not even announced if he intends to run. Clearly Giuliani and McCain have the moderate Republican vote, but Mitt was hoping to be the conservative candidate. If Newt enters the fray, the conservatives will move to him, so where does that leave the Romney camp?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070227/pl_rasmussen/gopprimary20070227

The Spyglass

Boost funding for transportation say ex Gov's

Deseret Morning News, Monday, February 26, 2007
Boost funding for transportation


By former Govs. Norman Bangerter, Olene Walker and Calvin Rampton
As we enter the last few days of the 57th session of the Utah State Legislature, final decisions will be made regarding how to allocate our precious resources — including the ultimate disposition of the massive surplus, which tops $1.6 billion.

As former governors and business and community leaders, we recognize the many competing needs placed before the Legislature. We applaud our lawmakers for funding public education, higher education and other crucial state priorities at appropriate levels.
During this time of plenty, it is vitally important to prepare for the future by investing in the basic infrastructure on which a healthy economy and a successful society are built. Republicans and Democrats agree that a core responsibility of government is to provide the transportation and water systems and other infrastructure that will support the rapid growth occurring across our state.

As Salt Lake, Utah and Davis counties, along with other parts of the state, boom with population growth, our transportation infrastructure, in particular, is not keeping up. The areas facing the biggest challenge in the next decade will be western Salt Lake County and northern Utah County, where plenty of space exists and where homes and businesses are sprouting up almost overnight.

We agree with the Salt Lake Chamber, which has made transportation infrastructure its No. 1 priority and forecasts a looming transportation crisis unless Utah's leaders take action. Funding must be found for a number of very large highway projects. The chamber estimates that meeting the most critical statewide transportation needs of the next eight years, through 2015, will require additional investment of $5.7 billion. That is $5.7 billion above current funding levels, which is an enormous amount over eight years. Through the year 2030, a $16.5 billion funding gap exists in highways alone.

State legislators are making heroic efforts to fund transportation this year, and we applaud their efforts. We encourage passage of final legislation to fund right-of-way purchase for the Mountain View Corridor and steps to hasten I-15 reconstruction in Utah County. But we are still underfunding transportation infrastructure in the state of Utah. Revenue sources for the billions of dollars in construction costs for those two major projects, plus others around the state, must be found, and tapping future surpluses may not be enough. Among other revenue sources, a fuel tax increase is needed in the future and is appropriate given the dramatically reduced purchasing power of the current tax level.

The cost of inaction is considerably higher than the price of proper investment in highway infrastructure. The measurable costs of congestion — including hours of delay, additional vehicle operating costs and accidents — will cost roughly twice the amount of dealing with the growth now, in a timely manner. The nonquantifiable costs, such as lost productivity, reduced quality of life, air quality impacts, health impacts and slower economic growth, will take an additional heavy toll on Utahns.

While modest tax cuts may be appropriate while the state enjoys a large surplus, let us not forget that boom times won't last forever. A crucial ingredient to sustain economic expansion is providing adequate infrastructure so our families and businesses can flourish.

We have formed a coalition, called the Oquirrh Alliance, to advocate for responsible governance and for policies that invest adequately in our rapidly growing state. We understand the price of inaction, and we wish to support our city, county and state leaders as they seek solutions and make hard choices to address our biggest challenges. (For more about the Oquirrh Alliance, see oquirrhalliance.org.

Former Govs. Bangerter, Walker and Rampton write on behalf of the Oquirrh Alliance Executive Committee.

Start Your Engines for Election 2008

The following are breakdowns of the current and potential candidates for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations in 2008.

The lists for each party are divided into the following categories: officially announced candidates, possible candidates who have formed “exploratory” campaign committees, political figures frequently mentioned as likely or possible candidates, and potential candidates who have officially announced that they will not run for president.

The lists will be updated promptly as developments warrant.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070223/pl_cq_politics/2008whitehousederbythefieldsofar_1

Read the latest 2008 Presidential Developments

The Spyglass

Everybody wins with this deal

Early in the session I had said if vouchers legislation passed, Public Education would be the eventual winner...

The envelope please, and the winner is

http://senatesite.com/blog/2007/02/gold-for-public-ed.html

The Spyglass

Breaking News: Lawmakers set to approve record funding for education

By Nicole Warburton and Tiffany Erickson Deseret Morning News
Education is likely to receive an unprecedented $527.9 million in funding under a budget deal announced this afternoon by House and Senate leadership. Under the deal, public education will receive $459.5 million. Higher education will receive $68.4 million. "This level of funding for education is both historic and necessary," Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said in a statement. "Both students and teachers win. When the session began we made education our number one priority and we have followed through and put education first."

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660198245,00.html

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5290629

The Spyglass

Giuliani the ONLY sure bet for Republicans in 2008

Giuliani the only sure bet for Republicans in 2008? I think so and let me tell you why.

Ok you Romney supporters, and McCain supporters I know I'm going to get flamed for this post, but wake up and smell the coffee. I love Mitt and donated heavily for his run for Governor, but the RR will simply not allow him to become president. They would rather see a liberal Democrat that they can bash and raise money against, then allow some “Mormon” to occupy the White house.

And McCain’s problem is McCain. He has a long and divisive voting record in the Senate, and the last President elected from Congress was Kennedy.

What does Rudy offer that NO other Republican can even come close to deliver? New York, and California’s electoral votes. Rudy’s stand on abortion and Gay rights appeal to America’s moderate unaffiliated voters, you know the ones needed to get elected.

I realize we are a long way from the nomination, but the numbers back me up. A slam dunk ticket would be Rudy Rice, but I'm not sure how much longer Rice wants to stay in the game.
Here are the latest poll numbers.

http://nationaljournal.com/racerankings/wh08/republicans/

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1019

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Political%20Tracking/Republican%20Primary/2008GOPPresidentialPrimary.htm

http://www.joinrudy2008.com/?gclid=CPLwv7C2xIoCFSUeGAodZV-1lw

Mark Towner,
The Spyglass

The Gloves come off between Clinton and Obama

WASHINGTON - The rival presidential campaigns of
Hillary Rodham Clinton' and Barack Obama traded accusations of nasty politics Wednesday over Hollywood donor David Geffen, who once backed Bill Clinton but now supports his wife's top rival.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_obama_15

Mt Holly Utah Ski Area To Be Replaced By Luxury Playground?

Mt Holly Utah Ski Area To Be Replaced By Luxury Playground?

SALT LAKE CITY A southern Utah ski area that shut down four years ago could be transformed into a private club for the rich and famous. A developer who said he holds rights to buy the once-bankrupt Elk Meadows ski area has plans for 1,200 trophy homes and condominiums, a Jack Nicklaus-commissioned golf course and other development totaling $3.5 billion – in a county where the total property value is less than $500 million. Elk Meadows, about halfway between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, would be modeled after the nation’s most exclusive ski resort, Montana’s Yellowstone Club, where members pay hefty fees and millions of dollars for a mountain home. Buyers at Elk Meadows will come from major cities in the West and beyond, Craig Button, managing partner of PCB Development LC of Holladay, said Wednesday. “We’ve got a number of reservations on a pre-sale basis that exceeded our expectations,” Button said. “We put them on hold until we can obtain necessary approvals.” The 450-acre ski area near Beaver comes with 1,400 acres of private land inside a national forest spanning Utah’s remote Tushar mountain range, where volcanic-shaped peaks top 12,000 feet. The setting is spectacular, but a succession of owners has struggled to make ends meet since Elk Meadows opened as a local ski hill in 1971, far from major urban centers and more popular Wasatch Range ski resorts near Salt Lake City. The latest proposal for Elk Meadows would gate off the ski area for members only, to the surprise and dismay of many Beaver residents. “Their initial reaction was a gasp for breath, with the realization they won’t have access up there,” Beaver County deputy attorney Leo Kernel said. Button unveiled his master plan Sept. 20 for county planners, who tabled the matter until Oct. 18. He said he was buying Elk Meadows from Litchfield Capital LLC of Mesa, Ariz., which is run by Phoenix lawyers Craig Campbell and Karl N. Huisch. Litchfield Capital was a silent investor for Elk Meadow’s last operator, Portland, Ore., businessman Wayne Case, who ran Elk Meadows for only a single winter, 2001-2002, before running out of money. Case borrowed from Nimbus Capital Partners of Holladay, which turned to Litchfield Capital for the balance of the financing, according to people familiar with the arrangements. Burton said he was offering to buy out owners of about 65 condominiums at Elk Meadows and wanted to demolish their units for expensive mountain homes. He said he also had secured rights to some 600 acres of private land around Puffer Lake, which he plans to connect to the ski area, adding high-speed chair lifts. Much of Burton’s plan depends on the cooperation of condo owners who may not let go of their units at the center of the ski area. Burton acknowledged he won’t be able to demolish any condos unless he secures all the units in a building. “A lot of them will choose not to sell, and we respect that,” he said. “We would expect them to respect our ownership rights, and then we’ll work through the issues.” The holdouts won’t be allowed to use his ski lifts, but Burton will have to arrange for them to get inside the gated communities. Burton said he had yet to make any offers on the 1970s-style condos.

From Todays Utah Policy Daily

Columnist Dan Lips says that Utah's new school voucher system "will provide other states and communities with a model of widespread parental choice in education. If history is any guide, Utah's program will inspire lawmakers across the country to develop and implement similar plans, as Dr. [Milton] Friedman envisioned" (Human Events) (see also related Mobile Press-Register editorial).

Watt is wrong with the bulb?

Now this is something I have some degree of experience. For many of you Spyglass insiders know, I work for Lowes Home Improvement when I'm not bloggin away. In fact I'm the Fashion Lighting-Rough Electrical department manager for the new Salt Lake City store. It would shock most people to learn who many light bulbs I sell a day, but ask yourself why both Home Depot and Lowes places their light bulbs on the first Aisle where customers enter the store."Watt" is really interesting about this story is Wall mart announced they planned to "give away" enough compact fluorescent bulbs to light 450,000 homes. They plan on a joint marketing campaign with somebody like Coke that will go something like this. Buy a 12 pack and get a 4 pack of compact fluorescent bulbs free. In fact several weeks ago Lowes also gave away four packs of lights, all the customer had to do was purchase, send in a copy of the receipt and receive a refund. It was amazing how many customers did not take advantage. I wonder why our Legislature has not taken up this issue, given the poor air quality we can have here in Utah?

"Watt is wrong with the bulb?By Rohan Sullivan ASSOCIATED PRESS February 21, 2007SYDNEY, Australia - The government yesterday announced plans to phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs across the country. Legislation to gradually restrict the sale of the old-style bulbs could reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent, said Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/business/20070221-121052-9125r.htm

You Must Check This Out- Very Cool

The Next step on E-Publishing will be Mag's and Journals. Well here it is. This is the coolest thing I've seen yet on e-mags. They are using technology from NTX Book and I'm blown away. All I can say to the print media folks out there is, "do you see that red flashing light in the corner of your eye? That’s your career light being snuffed out"January's

Campaigns & Elections magazine is now available online here, at no cost. We name the five women you need to watch. (Hint: they aren't named Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton.) Then C&E asks what it feels like to be the first female Governor of Alaska, the first Muslim in Congress, and the first openly lesbian member of Congress. Learn what it takes to "tailor" the perfect female candidate... all at the online version of Campaigns & Elections magazine.Subscribe to Campaigns & Elections here.

McCain: Rumsfeld was one of the worst

Republican presidential candidate John McCain (news, bio, voting record) said Monday the war in Iraq has been mismanaged for years and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be remembered as one of the worst in history.

"We are paying a very heavy price for the mismanagement — that's the kindest word I can give you — of Donald Rumsfeld, of this war," the Arizona senator told an overflow crowd of more than 800 at a retirement community near Hilton Head Island, S.C. "The price is very, very heavy and I regret it enormously."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070220/ap_on_el_pr/mccain2008&printer=1;_ylt=AhrZQnvrmGZccVnyJ5X3CSFh24cA

Sightings from The Spyglass

Fourth seat may get statewide election

WASHINGTON - If Utah gets a fourth congressional seat, the occupant may be elected statewide after all. Congressional leaders are looking to tweak a bill now before the House that would grant Utah a fourth seat while giving the District of Columbia its first full-voting member of Congress.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5253631

Mark Towner,

The Spyglass

CQ 2006 Election Results Map

CQ 2006 Election Results Map
Check Out Utah.
Eye Opening

http://www.cqpolitics.com/06map.html

The Spyglass

Urquhart delivers the Second of a One-Two Punch

Would mandate establishment of statewide charter school. Next step: Goes to a House committee. A bill introduced Friday in the House would force state education officials to sidestep certain laws and rules to establish a statewide virtual charter school by fall. The State Board of Education met Friday to take a position on a number of new bills, including HB169 sponsored by Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who also sponsored the recently passed school voucher legislation. Board members unanimously opposed the bill, saying it imposes an unrealistic timeline, circumvents their authority and sets a "bad precedent."


http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5248205

$220 Million Tax Cut, But Who and Where

Utahns will get a $220 million tax cut — probably coming this year. That idea sounds easy enough. But Utah GOP lawmakers' politically painful road to a total amount of tax relief was not easy, coming with some bruised egos and ruffled feathers. Now comes the even tougher decisions on exactly how the state's two personal income tax systems will be changed and what food sales tax cuts must come to get the $220 million.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660196294,00.html

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660195989,00.html

The Spyglass

More on Mitt from UPD

At The Politico, Terry Michael says: "[E]very bone in my libertarian Democrat body tells me the presidency is Mitt Romney's to lose. The images and sounds of the 'savior' of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics bring to mind former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers' observation about Bill Clinton: He seduces women, he seduces men, he seduces pets. Mitt Romney is Bill Clinton with his pants up. And he'll very likely be cast in 2008 ('nominated,' if you prefer the political science verb) against Clinton's wife, who has all the seductive qualities of John Kerry in a pants suit. ... [G]o to Mitt TV and see what I mean. I scared myself. I believe the Iraq war is a nearly criminal enterprise. I'm a social-cultural leftie who wants the government out of my bedroom and away from my body. But I was nearly mesmerized by a guy whose religion I consider akin to a cult, whose Iraq war support angers me and whose posturing against gays I find obnoxious. So, I find it kind of appalling that I find him appealing. Political seduction is a powerful drug" (see also UNCoRRELATED and Political Spyglass).

Rep. Bishop's floor speech on troop resolution

Rob speaks for Utah

http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_5233000

The Spyglass

Top 10 Reasons to Elect Romney

Top 10 reasons to put Mitt Romney in the White House

10) The National Cathedral could be renamed the National Tabernacle

9) NASA could commission a satellite to 'hie to Kolob'

8) The Secret Service could be renamed the Sacred Service

7) All official government prayers could include the phrase 'that we >all can get home safely'

6) Napoleon Dynamite could get someone other than Pedro elected

5) The President could not only explain things in Layman's terms, but >also Lemuel's terms

4) The President could issue pardons in exchange for 100% home teaching

3) Not only could he pronounce 'Nuclear' but also 'Mahonri Moriancumer' and 'Maher Shalal Hash Baz'.

2) At his inauguration he would swear on the Bible 'as far as it is >translated correctly'

1) Finally a first family large enough to fill up the White House

What's going on down in Beaver?

Does anyone know about this project?

http://mthollyclubtruth.blogspot.com/

The Spyglass

How congress spends our money

I stumbled across this website on how congress spends our money in a really cool poster. I was amazed at the complexity and the detail.

Everyone should check this site out
http://thebudgetgraph.com/view/

The Spyglass

Vouchers: By the Numbers

Here is a recent Post from The Senate Site about the actual numbers regarding vouchers.

http://senatesite.com/blog/2007/02/vouchers-by-numbers.html

Mark Towner,
The Spyglass

Utah Economy running on all cylinders, what could cause a misfile?

Utah Economy running on all cylinders, what could cause a misfire?

They tell us the State will receive an additional $150 million more than they first thought, so what is the one thing the Legislature can do to kill the golden goose. Not address the transportation problems we are and will continue to have here in Utah. I want to see more roads, TRAX, and commuter rail moved to the front burner, and the feet of each Legislator held over the flame.

I think I have a solution. Rep. Wayne Harper is sponsoring HB158 which would increase the tax on gasoline a couple of cents per year. This is a small first step, but it doesn’t resolve the problem of huge growth, and less ground to build on.

The Democrats in the Legislature keep saying that the Utah Taxpayer is not screaming for a Tax cut, and this is just a bunch of rich Republicans who don’t want to pay their fair share.

OK Rep. Harper, lets call their bluff, and solve this transportation problem once and for all. Whatever number the Legislature plans to cut in income taxes, lets increase the same amount in the gas tax. Lets tie these two together.

Here is an article from the Utah Taxpayers http://utahtaxpayer.blogspot.com/2007/02/day-29-gas-tax-increase.html that talk about the gas tax. I wonder how many projects we could get done quickly, if transportation received an additional $150-300 million each year.

What do you think?

The Spyglass

Trolley Square Massacre

Trolley Square Massacre
A gunman has rampaged through Trolley Square and killed several people. I live just down the street.

Voucher Legislation Signed, Group Ready to defend in Court.

INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICEARLINGTON, VAHOME PAGE: http://www2.blogger.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2007CONTACT: Lisa Knepper, (703) 682-9320Institute for Justice Pledges to Defend Universal School Choice in Utah.

Governor Signs Nation’s First Universal School Choice BillArlington, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice, the nation’s leading legal advocate for school choice, pledged to defend in court the first-ever universal school choice program should it come under legal attack. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed legislation today providing every family in the state the right to choose their child’s school.“The right to choose something as important as your child’s school should be a fundamental right,” said Chip Mellor, president and general counsel of the Institute for Justice.

“Today, that right becomes a reality in Utah, and we will vigorously defend parental choice against any legal challenge.”IJ has successfully defended choice programs in Cleveland—resulting in the landmark 2002 U.S. Supreme Court victory for school choice—Milwaukee, Arizona and Illinois.

The “Parent Choice in Education Act” provides scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000, based on family income, for parents to use at any eligible private school. All current public school children are eligible, as well as children in private school whose families qualify for the federal free and reduced price lunch program.Even before the bill was signed, opponents of school choice such as the Utah Education Association suggested that a legal challenge could be in the works. If opponents file suit, IJ will intervene in the litigation on behalf of parents who wish to use the program in order to ensure their rights are protected.“Utah precedent is very favorable to school choice, and we are confident this program will withstand legal challenge,” said Dick Komer, an IJ senior attorney.

“School choice is perfectly consistent with the Utah and U.S. constitutions.”School choice opponents claim that the program violates the Utah Constitution’s Blaine Amendments—remnants of anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant bigotry that swept the country in the 19th century—because parents could choose religious as well as non-religious private schools. (About 59 percent of Utah private schools are non-religious.)

But the Utah Supreme Court has never read its Blaine Amendments as broadly as opponents suggest.Indeed, Utah already has multiple school choice programs, including higher educational assistance programs that allow students to choose public, private or religious colleges, in addition to Carson Smith scholarships for K-12 special needs students. But under opponents’ misguided theories, those programs should be unconstitutional as well.

Fight over voucher program may not be finished

When will these guys get it? Lest they forget who can put a constitutional ammendment on the ballot.

JUST Move on UEA and address the needs of our kids.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5205610

Congratulations to Todd Weiler

A run for the Vice Chair:

It’s always hard to see someone you love lose an election, and you second guess why you bother in the first place.

Yesterday morning the Republican State Central Committee met for its quarterly meeting and one of the action items was to elect replacements for party leadership. Running for party office is always hard, because you are pitted up against friends within the party seeking the same positions and those that will do the voting are torn between these same friends and supporters who have helped them get elected or have supported them in the past.

Carrie and I showed up early to set up a table and meet the committee members as they were receiving their credentials and ballots. It became clear early on that Legislative leadership had “chosen” who they wanted to see elected, as friends and elected officials who in the past had come to Carrie and I for support would not make eye contact or were non committal about who they planned to elect. This is always the hardest part about these kinds of elections, because it’s so personal.

Carrie was nominated by Lora Miller who recently won a very close race for Salt Lake County District Attorney, and who Carrie had volunteered for her campaign in the past two elections. The Vice Chair race was very tough as there were 4 very qualified candidates, and because of the small group of voters 107 total, it would be very easy to tell who did and who did not support you.

As the poll watcher for Carrie I watched as each ballot was counted and could see the pattern develop early on. This is always the most heart breaking time for a spouse, and we both have been in this position several times for each others races.

I want to extend a heartfelt congratulation’s out to Todd Weiler who is our new elected vice chair, and Carrie Dickson our new party Secretary.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660194620,00.html

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5207463

The Spyglass

Vouchers get the Thumbs Up

Emotion charged debate, but the end result was a forgone conclusion. Now maybe we can move on. This issue has been like the Bank / Credit Union fight, or the Hadfield and McCoy war.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660194371,00.html

The Spyglass

For Every Action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Newton's Third Law of Motion:

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law is exemplified by what happens if we step off a boat onto the bank of a lake: as we move in the direction of the shore, the boat tends to move in the opposite direction (leaving us facedown in the water, if we aren't careful!).

So if you piss off enough people, over and over and over again, until finally they can't take it anymore, they will turn and stomp the crap out of you.

Well it looks like the Salt Lake County Executive Committee applied the Third Law of Motion to a party dissident.

Party Pooper?

http://blogs.sltrib.com/politics/

The Spyglass

Utah Legislature approves the nation's most expansive school voucher program

Utah Legislature approves the nation's most expansive school voucher program

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5195365


The Spyglass

Photo journal of Carrie and the Party she loves

Dear State Central Commitee Members. There will not be a more dedicated person to fill the position of Vice Chair for our Party.

Make it Happen, Vote for Carrie, and God Bless this Great State of Utah.

Let's Roll Up Our Sleeves and Work Together

Political sweeps are generally understood when
looking backward . . .

Successful politics only take place when
planned forward.

Vote Carrie Towner State Vice Chair

Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves and Work Together

● GOTV Action Plan ● Expand Fundraising ● Recruit

An Invitation for Change

An invitation for change

Political sweeps are generally understood when
looking backward . . .

Successful politics only take place when
planned forward.

Vote Carrie Towner State Vice Chair

● GOTV Action Plan ● Expand Fundraising ● Recruit

Political Sweeps are Generally Understood When Looking Backward...

Political sweeps are generally understood when
looking backward . . .

Successful politics only take place when
planned forward.

Vote Carrie Towner for State Vice Chair

● GOTV Action Plan

● Expand Fundraising

● Recruit

Let Them Eat Cake!

This is actually Air Force Two, or the plane usually taken by Dick Cheney. Nancy stepped in it already, "Let them eat Cake" The last lady that said that had her head chopped off.....

House GOP blast Pelosi for plane request. Murtha tells Airforce, get her what she wants or your budget will be cut.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070209/ap_on_go_co/pelosi_plane_18&printer=1

Strike One!!!!

The Current State of Our Utah Republican Party

I just read a post from another blogger I have great respect. I will post his entire comments below, however I want to make a point or two about the condition of our Republican Party here in Utah. Because outside of Salt Lake County the Republican Party is in effect “The Utah Political Party” we tend to over look what is happening within our own ranks. Unlike other states where the population tends to define themselves by affiliating with a particular political party, the vast majority of Utah’s population elects not to affiliate with any party. This independence streak goes back to the pioneers who settled this state. But lately we have had some very heated battles being waged between what I would call the establishment Republicans and the fringe element's of our party. Many in these fringe groups claim you cannot be a Republican unless you agree 100% with their issues or platform. Also because many of the other political parties (other than the Democratic) are so small and unorganized that many have become involved in our Party and then try to manipulate their issues into our governing documents.

What I want to communicate here is we as a party need to realize not everyone will agree with our own personal belief system, or morality stances. This however should not disqualify anyone from participating in our Utah Republican Party. We have pro-choice Republicans, pro-Gay Republicans, pro-economic development Republicans, pro-school choice Republicans, as well as anti all the same. What is most important is that we are all Republican. We should have a large enough tent to allow everyone who believes in less government control, and personal responsibility to sit at the table.

With that said, here is one of the finest commentaries on the subject I have ever seen putting electrons to screen. This is a reply from the Blogger http://www.alienatedwannabe.blogspot.com/

"I have tremendous respect for you. And, I think I understand your position. My roots are also in the conservative wing of our party, so I see you as being a kindred spirit.In the limited time I have here, I will try to supply an answer to your question:I am a Republican, not a Libertarian, for a good reason. Just as I do not believe in the "maximum" government of the Socialists and Democrats, I do not believe in the "minimum" government of the Anarchists and Libertarians either. Rather, I believe in the "optimum" government of the Republicans.For me, that is what the divinely inspired Constitution is all about--finding that right balance? As you remember, the original government of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, was too weak. It didn't work. The founding fathers replaced it with one that gave more power to a central government--they recognized the need for balance, "optimum" rather than "minimum."Too many of my fellow Conservative Republicans fail to seek this same balance. They start idealizing "minimum" government as if they were Libertarians instead of Republicans.No one understood the need of limited government more than Thomas Jefferson, but he also understood this principle of balance. He further understood that "limited" is a different concept entirely than "minimum." And, because of that, he was able to act in his country's best interest at a crucial moment in history.When France offered to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States, Jefferson wisely jumped at the opportunity, even though doing so seemed to require that he use authority not explicitly granted to him in the Constitution.Thank goodness he had the intelligence to do what he did! His actions have proven themselves over time to have been a tremendous blessing to our nation. Indeed, one wonders how dangerously handicapped and stunted our country would have been if he had not the vision and wisdom to do the right thing instead of the simple thing.Too often we conservative political junkies fall into the trap of being intellectually lazy. We gravitate toward a simple direction, right, instead of toward actually doing the "right" thing.I have learned in my life that doing the "right" thing requires balance--effort and judgment. Following a simple direction requires no effort and no judgment; we simply turn off our brain and say either "more government programs!" (left), or "less government programs!" (right)In the past, some who have famously fallen into a similar trap have declared such things as "It is wrong to heal on the Sabbath!" These folks couldn't get past the direction of following the letter of the law, so they failed to understand the balance of the spirit of the law.The spirit of our national and state constitutions is to provide for the common good. As a conservative Reagan Republican, I believe that often requires government to get off the backs of the people, so that their creative energies can be unleashed. But, sometimes it means that the government needs to step in, as appropriate, to build such things as the Eerie Canal--all for the common good.For me, Real Salt Lake's stadium falls into this category. I am convinced that it will produce benefits for our state that are just as vital to the common good as schools and highways. That is why I enthusiastically support the state chipping in a small portion to help make it a reality.I hope this, in some way, does justice to your excellent question."

3 Women could be running the Utah State GOP

How’s the old saying go, “when you want something done right, on time, and within a restrictive budget you call in the Relief Society” Well for the first time in Utah Republican History, 3 women could be running the Utah State GOP.

Here’s what we know for sure, Enid Greene will be the next State party chair because she is running unopposed. And Carrie Dickson who most recently made a run at Sheri Swenson for Salt Lake County clerk is the odds on favorite for party secretary.

So the real question is who will be elected to fill the Vice Chair role. The candidates in the running are Patrick Reagan who has run for party office before, Jay Collier who is from Toolee County, long time Republican operative Jack Powers has thrown his hat (something he wears to Republican events) into the ring, Todd Weiler who is the current Davis County GOP Chair, and Carrie Towner is the fifth candidate of the group.

In 2002 Carrie was the one female among 12 candidates seeking the Republican nomination for congress, so this is familiar territory.

Carrie’s work and participation in Salt Lake County and at the State Party level are legendary. She worked together with Carrie Dickson when they were both Salt Lake County party officers, and they are good personal friends. Enid Greene, Carrie Towner. and Carrie Dickson are all involved with the law with Enid and Carrie practicing Law, and Carrie Dickson who just recently retired as a professional legal secretary with 20 + years of experience.

With the last election results still clearly in our minds, it’s more important than ever that the Republican Party reach out to independent voters who in the next decade will decide the elections in Salt Lake County, and eventually the rest of the state. What better signal than to elect three of the brightest, professional, and completely dedicated women to these positions in the Republican Party.

Electing Carrie Towner as vice chair will set in place someone who will focus on the needs of our party and deliver results.

Just like how Gary Herbert works in concert with Governor Huntsman, Carrie would work with Enid Greene and develop a long term plan to better organize communication, volunteer efforts, and fund raising to a level not seen before in our party history.

These are just a few of Carrie’s Republican Credentials

2002 Ran for Congress, Utah 2nd congressional district
2002 Elected as Salt Lake County party treasurer
2003 Lincoln Day dinner with Sean Hannity committee
2004 Business Advisory Council, RNC
2004 Elected to State Central Committee
2004 Volunteer for Lora Miller for DA and Mark Shurtleff for AG
2004 Finance Chair for Salt Lake County party
2004 Full time advance and volunteer coordinator for Mark Crockett, county counsel race
2004-2007 a full time Law student at the University of Utah, will graduate May 2007
2006 Elected as Salt Lake County delegate
2006 Elected as Senate Chair for district #2, elected to county executive committee
2006 Volunteer for Dr. Joe Jarvis for Senate District 2, Lora Miller for DA, and Carrie Dickson for County Clerk
2007 Proposed the creation and now chairs the Salt Lake Action Plan (SLAP) committee to organize Salt Lake County efforts for 2008 elections
2007 Lincoln Day committee
2007 Seeks your vote for vice Chair position for Utah Republican Party.

Talk about the Wrong Stuff!

Astronaut charged with kidnap attempt , now they have added 1st degree murder attempt.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/ap_on_re_us/astronaut_arrested_7

What was she thinking?

And she flys the space shuttle?

It's time to recruit some need blood in the Astronaut corps.

The Spyglass

Gary Herbert, the Real Deal says put me in Coach!

Gary Herbert is the real deal. I take you back to 2004 to a debate held at the Old Historic Provo Library. My wife Carrie and I were actively working and supporting Marty Stephens who like all the rest was seeking the GOP nomination and eventual crown as Utah’s next Governor.

As we were setting up for the event, Gary Herbert came up to me and said we need to talk. I was stunned, I said what about. He said Database and technology, knowing this was a passion of mine. I had met Gary a couple of times at State Central Committee meetings, and to me he was just another Utah County SCC member. He was usually very quiet and very low key.

As the debate proceeded several things came into my mind. #1 was Olene Walker was not going to get the nomination. She stumbled on her words, and seemed ill prepared for the event. #2 Marty and Fred commanded the group. They both sat upright and focused and when asked a specific question, not only had a specific answer, but backed it up with facts. #3 Jon Huntsmen didn’t belong on the same stage with these guys. #4 where did Gary Herbert come from, and that this guy like Marty commanded the facts, and could deliver a speech. I said to myself right then and there, Gary Herbert would make one heck of a Lieutenant Governor, and why was Marty not talking to him about joining his campaign. After the event, I talked with several of his campaign staff who by the way occupies many of the positions in his office now what kind of person Gary really was. The answer was profound. Gary is Gary plain and simple. Peel back any number of layers and it’s still the same guy.

Well somebody else must have figured this out as well on the Huntsman team, because shortly after that event, then candidate Jon Huntsman announced that Gary would be joining his campaign. Gary possessed all the things Huntsman did not have at the time. These included a total grasp of local politics and how government actually works, and was well connected to the political insiders of Utah County and around the state. I feel 100% certain that had Jon Huntsman not convinced Gary to join his campaign, Jon would not be our current governor.

I must disclose I really like Gary Herbert both as our Lieutenant Governor, and on a personal basis. So with that disclaimer, let me explore the political crystal ball for the next several years. When Governor Huntsman announced his support of John McCain, this signaled to my feeble brain the following scenario. If John McCain becomes the next President, Jon Huntsman will likely be called to his cabinet either as the Secretary of State, or Ambassador to China. In that event, Gary Herbert would then take the reigns of Governor in 2008 after he and Jon win re-election. Under a Romney administration Jon Huntsman would have no role for several different reasons. Should McCain not win the Presidency in 2008, you can take it to the bank that Jon Huntsman will be seeking the Republican nomination for US Senate in 2010. For Bob Bennett this would be a campaign he doesn’t need nor could he afford and I see his retirement assured. Again Gary Herbert would assume the remaining two years, and then run again himself in 2012.

I can honestly say that the state of Utah has the most qualified Lt. Governor in the United States, and it will be a pleasure to call him Governor when the time comes.


Mark E. Towner,
The Spyglass

Article from the Tribune about Gary

http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_5159807

Lab Disaster may lead to cure for some cancers

It's often a mistake in the lab that has produced unexpected medical advances. Here is an example of one recently: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070204/sc_nm/cancer_drug_dc_3

Is Utah Valley University going to be derailed? http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660192790,00.html

Is affordable health care a right? Senator McCoy delivers on a campaign promise to bring healthcare to every Utah citizen, but what about the undocumented Scott?
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660192873,00.html

I don't get it? Republicans and light bulbs http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660192281,00.html

The Spyglass

Public school choice will curb mediocrity

Public school choice will curb mediocrity

By Randy Smith
Thanks to some truly outstanding teachers, the Davis School district is one of the top districts in the state. Four of the district high schools were listed among Newsweek's top high schools in the country. However, the $4.3 million Title I scandal reminds us how easy it is to become complacent when we trust people. And just as it was naive for a superintendent to fail to put in place reasonable controls over the district's use of Title I funds, parents are similarly naive when we fail to require that the administration justify its actions. As someone who was very involved in the recent boundary debate but unaffected by the boundary changes, I would like to share some questions I have after reading hundreds of e-mails sent to DavisParents.org. Why is the Davis School District fighting parents in an expensive legal battle over their open meeting violations? Why ignore the opinion of the 2nd District Court, the editorial boards of all three local daily papers, the Davis County Republican chairman and the Democratic chairman who have all been critical of the district's failure to comply with the letter or intent of this law? What public benefit can result from fighting to resist open government? Even though Bountiful High School had 170 empty seats this school year, the district denied 70 of the 90 students requesting a variance to Bountiful High. When the Sunset Hollow community petitioned to move out of the portables at Woods Cross High and into the empty classrooms at Bountiful High, why did the district deny this request in favor of plans to expand Woods Cross and bus students away from the 300 empty seats at Davis High? How many more teachers could we hire, or textbooks could we buy, if we simply filled our current school buildings rather than busing children away from empty classrooms? I recently met one family that applied for a variance to Bountiful High so their daughter could attend the same school as her older sister. Unfortunately, the administration believes that variances hurt the resident school, and so this variance request and numerous appeals were denied. The family even offered to send their senior from Bountiful to Woods Cross so their children could be together, but the athletic programs wouldn't allow that to happen. Only after six months of persistent pressure through letters, phone calls and personal visits did the district allow this distraught family to stay together. When did it become appropriate to hold children hostage to protect programs rather than using programs to benefit a child? We applaud the Salt Lake School District for its open enrollment policy. In that district 25 percent of the high school students choose their school. The Davis School District limits school choice to 2 percent. As public educators mobilize to fight vouchers, would they consider speaking up to help the children in the Davis School District get "public school choice?" If public educators are truly fighting for our children, public school choice should be easy to support. In the real world, if a supplier could force its customers to buy only from it, there would be no motivation to improve or even maintain the quality of the product or service. As a father who will have children in the public school system for another 14 years, I fear the mediocrity that is sure to follow if our public school administrators have no accountability and patrons have no choice.

Randy Smith, a father, is the spokesman for DavisParents.org

Overstock sues brokers for $3.48 billion

Chief Executive Officer Patrick Byrne, is seeking $3.48 billion in damages

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660192260,00.html

A Victory for Choice in Education

A Victory for Choice in Education:

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660192201,00.html


THANK YOU UTAH HOUSE!!
A big thanks to the Utah House for passing the voucher bill. 38 Yea votes:http://le.utah.gov/~2007/status/hbillsta/hb0148.001h.txtAndersen Barrus Buxton Clark, D. Clark, S. Curtis Daw Dee Donnelson Dougall Draxler Fowlke Frank Froerer Garn Gibson Grover Harper Herrod Hughes Hutchings, E. Kiser Last Lockhart Morley Neuenschwander Newbold Noel Oda Painter Sandstrom Sumsion Tilton Urquhart Walker Wheeler Wimmer Wyatt
posted by Utah Conservative @ Friday, February 02, 2007 0 comments

Tide may be turning for School Choice

Fifty-seven years later, Sumner Elementary School in Topeka is back in the news. That city's board of education is still wrongly preventing the right people from getting into that building. Two educators wanted to use Sumner for a charter school, a public school entitled to operate outside the confinements of dictated curricula and free from many work rules written by teachers unions.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660191901,00.html

Interesting Perspective on Voucher Funding

"The educrats are saying the voucher bill would cost more than $50 million if this were fully implemented in year one instead of being phased in over several years. Here's why they're wrong There are approximately 16,000 private school students in Utah. If all of them are "rich" (which is what voucher opponents claim), then each one would receive $500 if the voucher were fully phased in. This would amount to $8 million. If ZERO students switched, the worst case scenario would be $8 million. Any students that switched would save tax dollars. Therefore, the number of switchers multiplied by the difference of the spending average per student minus the average voucher amount would be the savings and this would be deducted from the $8 million."

Mike Jerman, Vice President
Utah Taxpayers Association