School voucher opponents gather enough signatures for repeal vote

School voucher opponents gather enough signatures for repeal vote
By Tiffany EricksonDeseret Morning News
Anti-voucher organizers challenging the new voucher law set a record in qualifying a referendum petition that would ask voters to repeal the state's new voucher law. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert announced today that the 124,218 verified signatures is not only a record number on a referendum petition but it's the first time in 33 years a referendum petition has been successful — a land use bill was overturned in 1974. The next steps in the process is for the state's Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel research to enroll a title within 15 days and prepare what language will go on the ballot. The governor has said he will set the election day for Feb. 5, 2008, the day of the presidential primary election. Kim Burningham, spokesman for Utahns for Public Schools and president of the State Board of Education said he was delighted and surprised at the announcement since they had more verifiable signature than expected, calling it a significant victory for the anti-voucher group.

Read the full story.....

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660216429,00.html

Ther Captain

Mormon documentary is riveting, balanced

By Vince HoriuchiThe Salt Lake Tribune
Article Launched: 04/28/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

It's difficult to sift through the rhetoric about the history and current state of one of the world's fastest-growing religions. The LDS Church has drawn passion on both sides: the self-righteous who boast the church can do no wrong and the anti-Mormons who spew unfair criticisms. But in the new PBS documentary "The Mormons" - perhaps the biggest national documentary about the church ever televised - filmmaker Helen Whitney has combed through rapture and rants about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to get to the simple truths. She has produced a comprehensive look at the church's violent and tumultuous history and its modern-day popularity with objectivity - no pious declarations from church leaders or venomous attacks from anti-Mormons. And it's riveting.

Read the entire story.....

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5774488

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5774484

Captain Mark

Mormonism: Religion, Denomination, or Cult?

By Frank Pastore
Saturday, April 28, 2007

Am I an anti-Mormon bigot for simply raising this question?

In this column two weeks ago (available here), I stated I would vote for Mitt Romney should he win the Republican nomination, and that “though I am willing to unite with and befriend Mormons in common cause to advance our shared values, I am hoping to be a voice of clarity – unwilling to allow Mormonism to be mistaken for orthodox Christianity and unwilling again to disqualify a candidate simply because he is from a faith tradition so different from my own.”

I also stated, “many Mormons in recent years have taken to calling themselves Christians, and a growing number of Christians are willing to speak of Mormonism as something akin to another Christian denomination. But, Mormonism is not a Christian denomination, nor is it merely ‘a non-Christian religion.’ To be theologically precise, though perhaps politically incorrect, Mormonism is a cult of Christianity.”

Everyone should read this and post comments about how you feel on Frank Pastore's Blog site as well as on the Spyglass site. http://politicalspyglass.blogspot.com/

Here is the complete story....
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/column.aspx?UrlTitle=mormonism__religion,_denomination,_or_cult&ns=FrankPastore&dt=04/28/2007&page=full&comments=true

Captain Mark

Greene won't run for term at helm of Republican Party

By Bob Bernick Jr.Deseret Morning News

Enid Greene, Utah Republicans' first female party chairperson, will not run for her own two-year term as state party leader in the June party convention, she said Friday.

Enid Greene But whether she ran or not, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will not be endorsing her or any other candidate for the top party post — a change in tradition. "I am not going to run," said Greene, who was appointed to head the party earlier this year. "We all assumed Fred Lampropoulos was going to run and would be the governor's pick. I don't know why (Lampropoulos) isn't. But this is quite a change. It is a wide open field." Lampropoulos ran against Huntsman for governor in 2004, losing in the state party convention. Historically, the "top of the ticket" GOP incumbent recruits or anoints the Republican Party chairman. That won't be the case this year. "It is a change," acknowledged Jeff Hartley, state GOP executive director on Friday after meeting with top Huntsman aides. Greene — divorced from convicted felon Joe Waldholtz for more than a decade — is planning to remarry this summer. And she said she wants to give her time to personal pursuits. "We're selling houses and building a house and blending families and I have much to do," said Greene. She's not closing the door to any future political campaign, just this one. "I want to see the party in good hands. There's a bit of a vacuum in leadership. I believe we will find a good chairman; it just won't be me." Mike Mower, Huntsman deputy chief of staff and spokesman, said "The governor encourages all good candidates" for party chairman to run. "And the governor will work closely with anyone who wins" the two-year term as party chairman, Mower added. Huntsman is running for re-election in 2008, and is the "top of the ticket" candidate for Republicans, said Hartley. As such, historically Huntsman would have a big say in who the next party chairman is.

Read the Rest of the Story...

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660215867,00.html

Captain Mark

Congress challenges Bush to veto Iraq pullout

By Richard Cowan 58 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In an unprecedented slap at
President George W. Bush' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> President George W. Bush's war policy, the U.S. Congress on Thursday approved legislation that links withdrawal of combat troops from
Iraq' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Iraq to paying for the war, ensuring a veto.

By a vote of 51-46, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in backing the bill that would provide about $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Afghanistan this year while setting a deadline to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq over the next 11 months.
It was the first time that the entire Congress, controlled by Democrats since January, has defied the president. Bush has repeatedly said he will not accept "surrender" dates.

Read the rest of the story.....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070426/pl_nm/iraq_usa_funding_dc_4

Captain Mark Towner

Show respect for vice presidency

TODD D. WEILER
"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being."
-- Jackie Robinson

BYU students should be honored to have the second most powerful man in the world speak at their graduation ceremony today.
There is a certain amount of respect and decorum that accompanies the office of vice president of the United States of America -- no matter who happens to occupy the office.

If the world is truly BYU's campus, then BYU ought to be a gracious host when it comes to visit.
Several years ago, I attended a convention where President Clinton was invited to speak. Although I disagreed with his politics and his morals (this was post-Lewinski), I was genuinely honored to be in the presence of a sitting president. It was an experience that I will simply never forget.

I did not try to shout him down, carry a sign, or turn my back as he spoke. Instead, I listened to his remarks and applauded when appropriate. I respected the office that he held, and treated him accordingly.

The thought of intentionally trying to show disrespect to an invited guest never even occurred to me.

Read the Entire Story.....

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/219229/

Well Said Todd

Captain Mark

Republican senator McCain formally announces White House bid

Wed Apr 25, 2:43 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republican Senator John McCain (news, bio, voting record) formally confirmed on Wednesday he is running for the White House, seeking to revive a campaign bogged down by missteps, controversy over his support for the
Iraq' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Iraq war and lackluster fundraising.

"Today I announce my candidacy for president of the United States," McCain said in Portsmouth, in the key state of New Hampshire, considered a major testing ground for candidates because it hosts the first party primary elections.
It was in New Hampshire that McCain, scored an upset victory primary victory in the 2000 race, before being defeated for the Republican nomination by George W. Bush, now in his second term as US president.

Read the full story...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070425/ts_alt_afp/usvote2008mccain

The only person who does not realize his campaign is doomed is McCain, how sad

The Captain

Election 2008: Giuliani (R) 46% Obama (D) 43%

Election 2008: Giuliani (R) 46% Obama (D) 43%

rasmussenreports.com Wed Apr 25, 10:38 AM ET

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) clinging to a narrow lead over Illinois Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) (D) in an early 2008 Presidential trial heat. Obama, however, enjoys a ten-point lead over former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R).

Giuliani, the GOP frontrunner, leads Obama 46% to 43%. A month ago, Giuliani led the Illinois Senator by just a single point. Back-to-back months in toss-up status represents a significant improvement for Obama--in December he trailed Giuliani by 11.

Read the rest of the story.....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070425/pl_rasmussen/giulianiobama20070425_1

Captain Mark

Christians for Rudy Giuliani

Scott Olin Schmidt
West Hollywood

When I tell my liberal friends and associates that there are only a handful of Republicans that I would vote for before Hillary Clinton, the response is universally the same. I get a blank stare, followed by the question: "Do you really think Rudy Giuliani can win the Republican nomination?"

If you've read about my infatuation with the Giuliani candidacy, you know my answer is YES. While Democrats like to fall in love with a candidate - Howard Dean or Senator Barack Obama, for example - we Republicans prefer picking winners.

While most Republicans would rather support a candidate who opposed abortion rights and supported the Second Amendment, they also realize that, even after seven years of George W. Bush's religious-right mobilization efforts, Americans would be hard pressed to elect such a person. With notable exceptions, like the 2002 California governor's race, Republicans recognize that they, like the Democrats, are a minority party. So, yes, the Religious Right will vote for Rudy Giuliani just as it voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger in California in 2003 and again in 2006.

Why? Republicans don't like being losers. Being losers is why people become Democrats.

Read the rest of the Story.....

http://www.spot-on.com/archives/schmidt/2007/04/christians_for_rudy_giuliani.html

Captain Mark

Rolly Broadside sinks the Black Pearl

Rolly Broadside sinks the Black Pearl

http://blogs.sltrib.com/politics/2007/04/how-about-plank-walk.htm

http://blogs.sltrib.com/politics/2007/04/short-lived-idea.htm

I guess we can’t have fun anymore without worrying about the political correctness police.

The private screening of the new “Disney” Pirates of the Caribbean combined with a fund raiser for Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has been sunk. The idea for the event was all mine and Mark S. had agreed to participate as Pirate Black-Mark Shurtleff. For those who have been on the Disney ride, there is a wench auction taking place when the pirates have taken the town. A beautiful redhead is on display, but the auctioneer is selling very ugly wenches, with calls for “we want the redhead” from the pirate crowd.

I had planned on duplicating this event by having Legislative leadership and other prominent elected officials dress up as the ugly wenches with the help of their spouses. The auction winner would have had the privilege (or not) of dumping a bucket of seawater on the wench (Legislator).

The Attorney General was not aware of the details, as I had hoped this would be a big surprise for him and the crowd. Well this all backfired when Salt Lake Tribune reporter Paul Rolly caught wind of the event, and focused on the “Wench Auction”. This drew unwanted and uncalled for negative attention to the Attorney General who was just being a good sport.

I grew up in Seattle and loved watching parades. There is an institution in Seattle since 1949 called the SeaFair Pirates http://www.seafairpirates.org/ I had hoped that maybe we could start an organization here in Utah that would be fun and raise money for charity just like in Seattle. But it appears that just dressing up as a Pirate and having some fun is politically incorrect “within the party of Jan Graham, Karen Shepherd, Patricia Jones and Patrice Arent, there would be hell to pay” according to Paul Rolly.

Have we as a society come to the point where we can’t have fun anymore? How sad, and I think Paul Rolly owes the Attorney General an apology for not getting the entire story first hand.

I apologize to Mark Shurtleff for any negative attention that my actions have brought upon him personally and his respected office of Attorney General.


Mark E. Towner,
Publisher of “The Political Spyglass”

Romney betting on early Florida primary

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON

AP Political Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lavished praise on Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday as he looked ahead to the possibility the state will move up its presidential primary.

"The more popular he is and the closer I can get to him the better I'm going to do," Romney said during a news conference with Crist, whose approval ratings have been in the 70s.
Romney spoke with state lawmakers, highlighted his Florida campaign team and devoted some attention to a critical Florida issue - the creation of a national catastrophe insurance fund.
He left no doubt that the talk of moving up the Florida primary is part of his overall strategy in winning the presidency.

"Florida is going to have a big say in who is going to be the nominee in each of the parties so I want to be in Florida as often as I can be," Romney said.

Read the entire story....

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Romney+betting+on+early+Florida+primary&articleId=36c3d62a-bdf2-4813-81fc-796392028bff

Captain Mark

How the GOP keeps the White House in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 …….

By Mark E. Towner, April 23, 2007

The Captain looks thru his Spyglass to February 5th 2008, which will become Super-Duper- Mega Tuesday, and in all reality a National Presidential Primary. A majority of the Presidential Delegates from the States participating will be a majority nationally, so whomever wins in February, gets the brass ring for their respective party.

I see Rudy Giuliani as the winner for the GOP, and Hillary Clinton for the Democrats. Now comes the gut check time for both primary winners. Who do they select as their VP choices? For Rudy it’s easy, Romney as his VP will bring home a win for the GOP in November. MONEY, and organization is what Romney brings to the table, and the Mormon issue is not a focus when running as VP. If Romney is shunned by Giuliani, it’s all over for the GOP. Mormons all over America will feel betrayed, and money and volunteers will disappear. And come Election Day, many Mormons and other conservatives will simply not show up at the polls, giving the Democrats the White House. All of Rudy’s personal weakness is offset by Romney and his family. If the Rudy – Mitt team can deliver for America, it will be Vice President Romney who will lead the Presidential ticket for the GOP in 2012 or 2016, with likely Jeb Bush as his running mate. The American people will have come to know Mitt, and the Mormon issue will have disappeared.

On the Democratic side Hillary will be faced with the same dilemma. Choosing Sen. Barack Obama as her running mate has its own benefits and traps. Depending on how their respective campaigns treat each other from now until February will tell America what kind of people we are really dealing with. I also think there is a lot more we will find out about Barack Obama, that we do not know now.

So if the GOP elects Rudy & Mitt as their nominees, I see thru my Spyglass the next three Presidents will be, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. If not, I see the Clintons back in the White House for the next 8 years.

What say you?

Captain Mark

Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani President Campaign Money Burn Rate Is Important

Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani President Campaign Money Burn Rate Is Important

Written by: BayouBuzz Staff Buzz Right Back----E-Mail a Friend----Print Page

While Mitt Romney leads the Republican presidential primary with his raising $20.7 in the first quarter, he has spent almost 13 million dollars so far. Rudy Giuliani, who has raised substantially less, 13.8 million has spent approximately 5.6 million. Which means that without counting any of the money being raised during this year, Republican Romney has only 7 million in the bank while Giuliani has a little over 9 million. The numbers are based upon Federal Election Commission filings.

Without doubt, Romney has been forced to spend to get his name recognition out to America while Giuliani has more universal awareness, primarily due to 9/11 and the perception that he handled the tragedy effectively.

However, the key for these candidates and others is not who has the most money, but, the dollar per vote in key states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and the first line states during the primaries. In 2004, Democrat Howard Dean was a money machine and was the man to beat until the “squeal heard around the world” which made his campaign drop like a rock.

The money factor goes to the issue of invincibility and momentum that a candidate can carry a nation. Still, the key question under the current system is whether the voters in the early primaries will be persuaded by the money raised or the win ability”of the candidates.”

Could this be the GOP Ticket? Giuliani - Romney or better yet The Rudy - Mitt machine

Captain Mark

Old political alliances break in 2008 race

JIM KUHNHENN - The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Not long ago, Washington lobbyist Wayne Berman and California investor Tom Tellefsen shared the same goal: Raise as much money as possible for George W. Bush. Now they are in opposite presidential camps; Berman with John McCain and Tellefsen with Mitt Romney.

Not long ago, Washington lawyer Gregory Craig and supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle were Bill Clinton loyalists. Craig is now raising money for Barack Obama while Burkle gathers cash for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

They are the bundlers, the fundraisers, the well-connected linchpins of a politician's financial operation. Collectively, they and scores of others helped raise $130 million in presidential primary money last quarter by spinning through their Rolodexes and scrolling through their computerized contact lists.

But with Republican and Democratic presidential fields of multiple candidates, some past alliances have split. Hillary Clinton has lost some old Clinton confederates to Obama. And McCain is building a fundraising team around the very same Bush fundraisers who worked against him in the 2000 presidential campaign.

Read the Rest of the Story...

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/218906/3/

Captain Mark

Polls Show Clinton Losing Party Support

Polls Show Clinton Losing Party Support

By StaffApr 22, 2007

A recent series of polls have found New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is losing support in the Democratic Party among certain voting segments.

While the polls showed Clinton has maintained her stance as the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, they did reveal the senator is losing the support of certain strategic groups to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, The Washington Times said Sunday.

Read the Rest of the Story.....

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21276345.shtml

Captain Mark

Romney, Giuliani the favorites at key S.C. Republican conventions

GREENVILLE, S.C. Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani drew crowds at the Greenville County Republican convention yesterday.Some in the crowd grumbled about the absence of Arizona Senator John McCain.

There was little doubt about the popularity of former New York Mayor Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Romney, as they held court for about a half-hour each before addressing one of the state's largest Republican groups.

Read the Rest of the Story....
http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6408707&nav=F2DO

Captain Mark

Giuliani becomes first GOP candidate to file for S.C. primary

COLUMBIA, S.C. Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani paid 25-thousand-dollars and filed paperwork today to become the first official participant in the early G-O-P primary here.

Read the entire story....
http://www.fox21.com/Global/story.asp?S=6404504&nav=2KPp

The Captain

Big Infusion from Utah Helped Boost Romney to Top of GOP Money List

By Greg Giroux Fri Apr 20, 2:01 PM ET

The winner of the Republican presidential fundraising race — at least in the first three months of this year — was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who ended March with $23.4 million in total receipts and began April with $11.9 million left to spend.

That big first-quarter take ensures that Romney — a businessman whose recently ended four-year tenure as governor (2003-07) is his only political officeholding experience — will have the resources to vigorously compete in a Republican nominating contest in which his rivals include a pair of candidates who are much better-known to voters nationally: former New York City
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record).

Read the Rest of the Story....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070420/pl_cq_politics/biginfusionfromutahhelpedboostromneytotopofgopmoneylist_1

The Captain

Rudy Giuliani Tops All Others in New Jersey Poll

Friday, April 20, 2007 12:18 a.m. EDT
Rudy Giuliani Tops All Others in New Jersey Poll

New Jersey hasn't supported a Republican for president for nearly 20 years, but a new poll released Thursday shows former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leading all presidential challengers in New Jersey.

The Quinnipiac University poll found the Republican with similar leads over the three leading Democratic presidential candidates.

Giuliani leads New York Sen. Hillary Clinton 49 percent to 40 percent, the poll found. He leads Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 48 percent to 38 percent, and 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards 48 percent to 41 percent.

New Jersey hasn't supported a Republican for president since 1988.

"It makes no difference who the Democrats put up — Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John Edwards — former Mayor Giuliani continues to knock out all challengers in the New Jersey presidential race," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The poll found other Republicans wouldn't fare so well in the Garden State, although Arizona Sen. John McCain was running about even with the leading Democrats, trailing Clinton by 4 points, Obama by 2 points and Edwards by 1 point.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney trails Clinton by 19 points, Obama by 24 points and Edwards by 25 points, according to the poll.

"The good news for Sen. Clinton is that for the first time, she is now the clear favorite over a weakened Sen. John McCain in New Jersey and her favorability rating is up slightly," Richards said.

Giuliani leads a New Jersey Republican primary with 49 percent, down from 58 percent March 1, followed by McCain with 18 percent, compared to 15 percent March 1. Former U.S. senator and "Law & Order" actor Fred Thompson gets 6 percent, with 5 percent for Romney and 4 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Giuliani has lost some support among Republicans, but no other member of his party comes close to challenging him for the GOP nomination in New Jersey," Richards said.
Clinton leads a New Jersey Democratic primary with 38 percent, followed by Obama with 16 percent, former Vice President Al Gore with 12 percent, Edwards with 9 percent and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden with 3 percent.

Clinton was recently endorsed by Gov. Corzine and several other leading New Jersey Democrats. Corzine recently signed a law moving New Jersey's presidential primary to Feb. 5, grouping it among the first states to hold primaries in 2008. The poll found that New Jersey voters approve of the change, 54 percent to 19 percent, but only 37 percent said the earlier date will make them more likely to vote in the primary.

The poll surveyed 1,424 voters from April 10 to 16. It included 460 Republicans with a sampling margin of error of 4.6 percent and 504 Democrats with a sampling error margin of 4.4 percent.
© 2007 Associated Press.

House passes bill to give Utah, District of Columbia new house seats

House passes bill to give Utah, District of Columbia new house seats
By Jim AbramsAssociated Press
WASHINGTON — The people of the District of Columbia moved a step closer Thursday to gaining voting rights denied to them for more than 200 years. But the legislation passed by the House on a 241-177 vote faced a veto threat from the White House, which said the bill was unconstitutional. The bill would increase full House membership from 435 to 437, giving the largely Democratic half-million residents of the district a seat and adding a temporary at-large seat for Republican-leaning Utah. The House has consisted of 435 seats since 1960. The bill now goes to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., echoing the position of the Bush administration, said it was unconstitutional and he would oppose it. "This legislation corrects a serious flaw in our democracy," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "We will not rest until full voting representation in the House is granted to the District of Columbia."

Read full Story.... http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660213268,00.html

The Captain

Is Rudy Giuliani The Republican Howard Dean?

Rudy waving on his way to Steve Harmsens home...

Is Rudy Giuliani The Republican Howard Dean?
by Sean P. Trende (More by this author)
Posted: 04/18/2007

One of my hypotheses was that Mayor Rudy Giuliani could well be the Republican Peyton Manning. Under this theory, Giuliani’s chances of winning the big game -- like those of Manning -- have been wrongly discounted by experts in the field. Given the changing issues and face of the Republican party, Giuliani could possibly do what many thought impossible, and win as a socially moderate-to-liberal Republican.

Read the full story.......
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20300

Romney’s Mormon Money Paradox

Romney’s Mormon Money Paradox
by Amanda B. Carpenter (More by this author)
Posted: 04/18/2007

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R.) can’t break double-digits in the polls in his campaign for the 2008 Republican nomination for President, but has somehow set the pace for GOP fundraising. What gives?Today, Romney only pulls only 9.7% on the Real Clear Politics poll average. Yet, he leads the pack in Republican fundraising, posting a cool $23.4 million in the first quarter of the 2008 presidential election. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who leads the RCP poll with 31.5% only raised $16.6 million. Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.), who polls 19% raised a little over $13 million.

So, where is Romney’s money coming from and how come it doesn’t translate in a poll boost?

A partial answer to the first question is Utah.Like roughly 62% of the state’s population, Romney is a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints. He is also well-known to Utahans because of his work there as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Read the full story......

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20307

The Captain

Shooter from South Korea

By ADAM GELLER, AP National Writer 40 minutes ago

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A Virginia Tech senior from South Korea' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> South Korea killed at least 30 people locked inside a classroom building in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history, the university and police said Tuesday.

Ballistics tests also found that one of the guns used in that attack was also used in a shooting two hours earlier at a Virginia Tech dorm that left two people dead, Virginia State Police said.
Police identified the classroom shooter as Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a senior from South Korea who was in the English department and lived in another dorm on campus. They said Cho committed suicide after the attacks, and there was no indication Tuesday of a possible motive.

"He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him," school spokesman Larry Hincker said.

The entire Story......

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18219895&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=6

The Captain

2008 Republican Presidential Primary: Giuliani 33% McCain 19% Thompson 13%

rasmussenreports.com
1 hour, 30 minutes ago

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain (voting record) both gained support this week in the race for the GOP nomination. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney held steady and remain the only other Republicans earning double digit support.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of the Republican Presidential Primary competition finds Giuliani at 33%, fourteen points ahead of McCain's 19%. Thompson is still in third at 13% slightly ahead of Romney at 11%. For Giuliani, that's his highest level of support in three weeks. It's McCain's best showing since early March. Last week, it was Giuliani 27% McCain 16% Thompson 14% and Romney 12%.


Here is the entire story.....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070417/pl_rasmussen/gopprimary20070417

The Captain

Pirates Private Screening, May 25th

Arrrrr…… me hardy’s. This be your Captain speaking and I want to bring you up to date on our Private Screening of the Pirates of the Caribbean 3, on opening Day May 25th. The event will be held at the MegaPlex complex at the Gateway, and now I can reveal who our special guest will be.

Beginning at 4pm on the upper deck of the Gateway Admiral "Black-Mark" Shurtleff will be holding a wench auction for the crew. At around 4:30 there be a contest for the best dressed Captain Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swan, Will Turner, and Captain Barbossa with prizes to be paid in new US Gold Dollars. This event will be the 2008 kickoff fundraiser for Attorney General Mark Shurtleff aka Admiral “Black-Mark” re-election campaign. At around 5:00pm the Spyglass crew will start taking their seats, and the show will start at 5:30pm.

Reserved seats for the crew will be as follows: All sponsors will receive recognition and Company or Name displayed on the screen before the start of the movie.

Tortuga Major Sponsor first four rows of 16 seats each row middle upper tier $2500.00

First Class Sponsor next four rows of 16 seats each row middle upper tier $2000.00

Second Class Sponsor first two rows right upper tier $1500.00

Third Class Sponsor first two rows left upper tier $1000.00

The remaining tickets will be sold on a first pay, best remaining seat as determined by the Megaplex ticket computer.

Donations will be $15.00 for each crew member, or $20.00 per pair.

After we have secured the major sponsors, a message will be sent out on the Spyglass providing instructions on how to make donations for tickets on Paypal . You should set up your Paypal account right away so you can get the best seats. We expect many dignitaries to attend and coverage by the local media.

Keep a sharp eye out for more details……..

Captain Mark T.

Where I stand on the Issues

In an attempt at full disclosure, these are my political beliefs......

I would reccomend eveyone check out this website.....

http://www.realrepublicanmajority.org/

Principles of the Real Republican Majority

I BELIEVE that the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's liberty, dignity, freedom and privacy must be honored and respected.

I BELIEVE that the role of government is to practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE that strong national security and safety of Americans at home and abroad must be a top priority of our Party and our government.

I BELIEVE in the Constitutional protection of the separation of church and state-- that official policies of our Party and our country should not be dictated by personal religious beliefs.

I BELIEVE that medical and moral choices are individual and family decisions not government decisions.

I BELIEVE that we build a strong Party by consensus, not by forcing an agenda on issues that are divisive, personal and best left at home.

I BELIEVE that the Republican National Committee should focus on our traditional agenda of smaller government, lower taxes, and a pro-growth economy.

I BELIEVE that the Republican Party Platform should be welcoming and respectful of differing views on issues of disagreement and promote the 'Big Tent' philosophy.

The Captain....

Rudy Giuliani: Take Me or Leave Me

Rudy Giuliani: Take Me or Leave Me
By Roger SimonApr 12, 2007

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Rudy Giuliani says that the standard for judging his troubled personal life should be how it affected or did not affect the job he did as mayor of New York. "We all have personal lives, we all have things that go right and wrong in our personal lives," he told me. "The real question is: How does it affect how you can perform?"

"Does the fact that I may have had some problems in my personal life mean that I don't perform my job or I can't perform it well?" he continued. "Or does it mean that, despite them, I still was able to take a city that was the crime capital of America and turn it into the safest large city in America."

Giuliani said he removed 660,000 people from the welfare roles in New York, turned a budget deficit into a surplus and "had to deal with the worst crisis in the history of our city upfront and directly," a reference to the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001.

"So I would ask people to look at that," Giuliani said in the half-hour interview. "They can know everything about me. They will find out everything about me. But then, how has it (i.e., personal problems) affected me?"

Giuliani's argument is unlikely to satisfy some of his critics among social and religious conservatives, who would suggest that personal behavior should not be judged solely on whether it affects your job performance.

Christian conservatives, who play an important role in Republican politics in South Carolina, might argue that behavior also should be judged as to whether it is moral or immoral.
In 2000, when Giuliani was mayor of New York, news of his extramarital relationship with Judith Nathan became public. Giuliani announced at a press conference that he was separating from his wife, something she did not know beforehand. Giuliani filed for divorce and married Nathan in 2003.

I reminded Giuliani that South Carolina was the site of a vicious Republican primary campaign in 2000, in which John McCain was the subject of venomous attacks by supporters of George W. Bush.

Has it crossed your mind that this may be an extremely rough primary in 2008? I asked him. "It has, and it will be," Giuliani replied. But he also said he did not think the attacks would come directly from other Republican presidential candidates.

"I think more of this comes from the ... blogging atmosphere, in the instant news atmosphere and the minute-analysis atmosphere," he said.

Giuliani's positions on abortion, gun control and gay rights are very moderate by Republican standards, and some political analysts have said he cannot be nominated because of them. But Giuliani said in the interview he would not change. "I am not going to change who I am," he said. "I think that would be a terrible mistake. Better off you vote against me than I change who I am. Because then I couldn't be an effective president."

Giuliani also said being attacked was nothing new to him. "This went on every day when I was mayor of New York," he said. "So you get used to it. And you learn where you put it."
Giuliani, who leads virtually all polls for the Republican nomination by large margins, admitted that he has made some mistakes. "You have a balance of things you did right and things you did wrong, and the mistakes you made are very public ones," he said. "The question is: What's the balance? Is the balance a balance of success or not?"

I asked Giuliani if he was asking Republican voters to pass up candidates who were more "ideologically pure" and vote for him because of his record as mayor. "Part of my message is you might find on some issues there are more ideologically pure candidates — whatever that means — but I bet you are not going to find one on fiscal conservatism that's stronger than I am," he said. "I don't think you will find a candidate who has had more experience in dealing with terrorism. And I bet you will not find a candidate that has had more executive experience than I have had. In fact, I don't think you will find one that has had as much."

He also said that Republican voters should look at all of his positions on the issues. "If nine out of 10 times you agree with me," he said, "then maybe you should consider me as your candidate, unless the one reason you disagree with me is so important to you that you can't. And I respect that."

GOP losing support in Utah (the Romney effect)?

Interesting Point:

GOP losing support in Utah (the Romney effect)

Jonathan Singer over at MyDD notes that in Utah, the Republican dominance (once over 50 percent in voter identification) is beginning to show some cracks. Maybe Utah Republicans are beginning to realize that all those questions about Mitt Romney's religion are coming from a very real place in Republican culture.

The most dominant religion in the South and the most dominant social movement in modern Republicanism can hardly bring itself to respect Mormons.

I'd be a little turned off too if I heard about the damaging effects my religion is having on a front running presidential candidate.

It should be noted that no one questioned whether anyone in the Democratic Party would accept a Mormon leader in the Senate.

Religion matters in the Republican Party because it matters what religion you belong to. In the Democratic Party, religion doesn't matter in the sense that your religion is between you, God, and your community of faith and shouldn't be a political matter.

Romney To Post On YourTube

Romney To Post On YouTube
Presidential Contenders To Take Turns

UPDATED: 7:08 am EDT April 12, 2007

WASHINGTON -- YouTube, the popular video Web site, wants you to have a little face time with the presidential candidates. Virtually speaking, that is.
Starting Wednesday, White House contenders from both parties will take turns posting videos on YouTube's News and Politics site, and YouTube watchers will get to post their own video responses.

The experiment is an outgrowth of YouTube's "You Choose '08" initiative that kicked off in February to let candidates showcase their campaigns on the Web site through their campaign videos. "Interactivity is what really fuels the engine on YouTube and candidates and users were striving for ways to communicate with each other," said Steve Grove, head of news and politics for YouTube.

Beginning this week with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, candidates will get one week to engage in a video discussion in YouTube's "You Choose '08 Spotlight." Romney's video question: "What do you believe is America's single greatest challenge and what would you do to address it?"

He encourages watchers to post their video replies and vows: "I'll do my best to watch as many as I can and respond to them."

The new political give-and-take comes as political campaigns begin to explore the realm of new technologies for reaching voters. Candidates now have sophisticated Web sites and have added profile pages on social networking sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com, all popular with a new wired generation.

In a crowded presidential field, the videos and the online hangouts can convey a new sense of intimacy. "You can peel back the political veneer on video and see what a person is really about,"

McCain campaign to cut back on staff

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer Wed Apr 11, 8:57 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record)'s troubled presidential campaign is eliminating some non-senior staff positions and cutting some consultants' contracts.

The Arizona senator's campaign characterized the moves as "minor adjustments" that are part of an overall effort to revamp its fundraising office and budgeting operation.
McCain ordered a financial overhaul after he reported raising only $12.5 million from January through March, third behind his top GOP rivals, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

Read the full story.... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070412/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_campaign_7

Fred Thompson says he has cancer

First it was Rudy, then Mrs Edwards, now Thompson. Will voters care?


Fred Thompson says he has cancer
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who is considering a bid for president, said Wednesday he was diagnosed with lymphoma more than two years ago but the cancer shouldn't affect his life expectancy.

In an interview with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto, the former Tennessee senator, 64, said doctors discovered that he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2004. He said the disease is in remission with no illness or symptoms.

Read full story...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070411/ap_on_go_co/thompson_cancer_3

The Captain

Giuliani Leads GOP Field

April 10, 2007
Giuliani Leads GOP Field; McCain Support Down in Latest Trial Heat
Thompson maintains third-place showing
by Jeffrey M. Jones

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- The latest Gallup Poll of rank-and-file Republicans' preferences for their party's 2008 presidential nomination shows Rudy Giuliani continues to lead the large field of candidates. John McCain continues to place second, but with his lowest level of support to date. Fred Thompson and Newt Gingrich tie for third place.

Of the leading candidates, Giuliani is rated the most positively by Republicans and by all Americans. McCain's image is also mostly positive. Gingrich has a positive image among Republicans but a negative one among the general population, while Thompson and Mitt Romney are largely unknown.

Read full details......

http://www.galluppoll.com/content/Default.aspx?ci=27160&VERSION=p

The Captain

I won't be Clinton's No 2, says Obama

I won't be Clinton's No 2, says Obama

By Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 2:11am BST 11/04/2007

An increasingly confident Senator Barack Obama has rejected the possibility of becoming Hillary Clinton's running mate in the 2008 election - but dangled the notion that she might be his vice-presidential candidate.

Read full story.....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/11/wobama11.xml

The Captain

Clinton, McCain lose front-runner labels

Clinton, McCain lose front-runner labels
An air of inevitability surrounding those two '08 hopefuls vanishes amid fundraising upsets and high voter interest.
By Mark Z. Barabak, Times Staff WriterApril 9, 2007

After months of intensive campaigning, record fundraising and unusually high voter interest, the 2008 presidential campaign has lost its early front-runners on both sides, throwing the races wide open.Far from clarifying things, last week's tally of first-quarter fundraising totals dispelled the air of inevitability that the putative favorites — Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona — spent years trying to create.

Read the entire story....

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-prez9apr09,0,197796.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

The Captain

Romney calls himself a longtime hunter

Romney calls himself a longtime hunter, OOPS

By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Thu Apr 5, 2:36 AM ET
BOSTON - In boasting about his lifelong experience as a hunter, Mitt Romney may have shot himself in the foot.

The Republican presidential contender has told audiences on several occasions, most recently this week in gun-savvy — and early voting — New Hampshire, that he has been a longtime hunter. But it turns out he has been on only two hunting trips.

Read the full story...... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070405/ap_on_el_pr/romney_hunting_4

Captain Mark

Update: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070406/ap_on_el_pr/romney_hunting_5

Update 4-11-2007

Story will not die

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/311067_mitt11.html

Captain Mark

Should the LDS Church get out of the Newspaper Business?

Should the LDS Church get out of the Newspaper Business?

By Mark E. Towner, Political Spyglass

A recent column in the Salt Lake Tribune, accusing the Leadership of the LDS Church being pro Republican, and basically liars because they are allowing Vice President Cheney to speak at BYU got me incensed.

The reason the Tribune can get away with this kind of slander is because of the contract with NAC. Newspaper Agency Corporation is the group that sells ads and prints each respective daily newspaper. This is the same group that when I was the business development director for Utah Policy Daily, and we wanted to advertise on the Deseret News Website once they learned that UPD was LaVarr Webb’s company, killed the deal, even though we had agreements in place.

What the LDS Church should do is shut down the Deseret Morning News Paper, eliminating the contract with NAC and then the Tribune would have to go it alone. Major advertisers could pull ads if the Tribune’s reporters get out of hand without hurting a Church owned business. Which begs the question, should the LDS church own a newspaper in the first place?

I think the LDS church should create a new company called Deseret News, which in partnership with KSL TV and Radio create 24 Hour Online news channel and utilize the new web newspaper publication technology. The reporters for both organizations could get their reports up real time, delivered to cell phones and email and include Video. KSL could sell the ads and with the cost savings of not having to actually print a newspaper, just think what could be done.

The Baby boomers are the last of the Newspaper readers, the new generation never looks at a paper, and they always read the internet for their news. Of course this can’t happen overnight, but if started now, by 2010 the Deseret News Channel and web publication could be fully functional. This would be another Utah first…..

Carrie spends the day with Justice Thomas

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is in town. Carrie was invited by the Dean of the Law School to spend the day with him.

How cool is that?

Thomas speaks of his 'overcoming'

Justice Thomas low-profile in visit

Captain Mark, very proud husband

Private Screening of Pirates of the Caribbean III

Arrrr... Spyglass crew members. Captain Mark announces that Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and The Political Spyglass are sponsoring a private screening of the New Pirates of the Caribbean III, At The Worlds End at the Jordan Commons MegaPlex on June 8th the Night before the State Convention.

Festivities will begin around 3:30 as Pirates take over the commons, and all candidates for party office have been invited to mingle with the crew. Photo Opportunities with Admiral Black Mark Shurtleff, Captain Mark Towner, and other notable Pirates will begin around 4:00 with the movie to begin around 5:30.

This event will be for State GOP Delegates and there be bunk space for only around 500 swabs to see the movie, so you better act quick and send in your requests for tickets to the Captain.

There will be prizes for best costumes of the main characters of the movie.

Come join us and make this a memorable event. Send an email to marktowner@comcast.net to let the Captain know how many tickets your crew be needing.

Captain Mark

We took them for HOW MUCH!!!!!!

Analysis: Funds separate '08 contenders
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 55 minutes ago

DES MOINES, Iowa - Democrat
Hillary Rodham Clinton' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Mitt Romney raised breathtaking amounts of money for their presidential bids in the year's first three months. GOP candidates Rudy Giuliani and John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and Democrat
John Edwards' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> John Edwards also broke records. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) is expected to do the same.

Read full story...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070403/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_spending_analysis

Rescinding on Romney?

By Ryan Sager

Here, I'm tempting the Great Rule of Headline Question Marks with a question the answer to which is: not yet.

I've pondered in recent days whether I've been too harsh on Mitt Romney's faltering campaign for the presidency. But now we have a man described by the Hotline as "the most powerful Republican fundraiser in the South," currently in the Romney camp, speculating openly about his candidate dropping out of the race.

What's more, he's even naming the candidate whose team he wishes he could join — if only he hadn't committed too early to Mr. Romney: Fred Thompson.
In this interview with the Tennessean, Ted Welch talks up Mr. Thompson while ostensibly reaffirming his loyalty to Mr. Romney:

"Back in January, I had no idea that Fred was even thinking about it," Welch said. "I went ahead and committed to (Massachusetts Gov.) Mitt Romney because I thought he was the best of the lot that had shown interest in running. It would be very inappropriate and very unfair for me to say to Mitt Romney, 'Hey, Fred Thompson decided to run and I'm gone. Bye.' I'm not going to do anything like that. I made a commitment, and I'm going to stick with it, so long as he is in the race.

"If he, for some reason, were to drop out, my choice would naturally be Fred Thompson."
Welch made sure to say that last sentence several times: If Romney's out, Thompson is Welch's guy.

I can hardly imagine a less ringing endorsement for Mr. Romney. If Mr. Welch was committed to his candidate, and confident of his candidate's future, he wouldn't be speculating about his candidate's impending departure from the race.

Mr. Romney can post any dollar amount in the world. He can build a Scrooge McDuck-style campaign treasury and swim around in it all day. It still doesn't make him a viable candidate for the presidency.

The comparison is increasingly made between Mr. Romney's candidacy this year and that of the former senator from Texas, Phil Gramm, in 1995-96. Mr. Gramm, of course, raised a tremendous amount of money in that race, but he still didn't make it to the New Hampshire primary. And, one might note, they were both favored by National Review (OK, National Review has yet to endorse anyone, and one of the magazine's senior editors has come out publicly for John McCain. But Mr. Romney has been the subject of much glowing coverage in the magazine and on the magazine's blog).

The question, then, is when do major players start rescinding on commitments to Mr. Romney?

The answer: not yet. But it could be soon.

Mayor Giuliani continues to lead in major polls around the nation, including the battleground state of Florida.

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has opened double-digit leads over top 2008 Democratic presidential contenders in Florida, beating either New York Sen. Hillary Clinton or former Sen. John Edwards 50 - 40 percent, and topping Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 52 - 36 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1297.xml?ReleaseID=1034

Captain Mark

New Orders from the Captain

Welcome Shipmates, this is your Captain speaking and I want to share with you some changes on the Spyglass Blogsite . I would ask you to click on the site and see for your self and provide me some feedback. Anything you post as a reply come directly to the captains cabin.

I have created a streaming ticker tape of the Presidential Campaigns that pop up as soon as they hit the web. I also have placed Video clips covering the same thing. All these are real time, searching Google Video and Your Tube.

I have received some recent comments that the emails I’m sending out are too long for many folks with PDA’s. So I’m going to try to post my commentary that will include links to other articles so as to keep the size of the messages smaller.

I have also installed a podcast and will begin a early morning podcast of the overnight news.

So please click over to the Spyglass and let you Captain know how you feel, and how we might make the voyage better.

Captain Mark