Romney finds peril in checklist for '2008

Romney finds peril in checklist for '08
By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
BOSTON - As Mitt Romney transitions from one-term governor to presidential candidate, he has been ticking through a presidential checklist, sometimes with perilous results.

Where he lacked foreign policy experience, his staff arranged one-day visits to
Iraq' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Iraq,
Afghanistan' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Check, check, check.

Where there were questions about Second Amendment issues, he enrolled as a "lifetime" member of the National Rifle Association.
Check again.

But this month, Romney scratched when he tried to wade through the cauldron of Cuban-American politics during a speech to South Florida Republicans.
"Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase — 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.'" Romney said, referring to the Venezuelan president and persistent U.S. critic. "It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba."
In truth, the phrase does not belong to free Cubans. It has been the trademark speechmaking sign-off of their most despised opponent,
Fidel Castro' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Fidel Castro. And unlike Romney, Castro would switch to English to declare, "Fatherland or death, we shall overcome."
The mistake pointed up Romney's newness to the scene and the freshness of some of his positions.

"No human being can ever know every nuance to every issue. And the steeper the learning curve, the more likely you are to see inadvertent errors," said Dan Schnur, a Republican communications consultant in California. He worked for Pete Wilson's 1996 presidential campaign and Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record)'s 2000 presidential campaign, but is not involved in the 2008 race.
"I've never seen one of these things take down a campaign, but it's critical for the candidate to show these type of things are an aberration, not a rule," Schnur said.

Unlike some of his better-known Democratic and Republican rivals, Romney, 60, lacks extensive national and international political experience. Romney has made a series of foreign and domestic policy pronouncements as he rushes to close gaps in his campaign's portfolio.
On the plus side, Romney's mostly nonpolitical background — primarily as a venture capitalist, as well as head of the 2002
Winter Olympics' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Winter Olympics — means he does not have a long history on many contentious issues. That gives him great leeway as he adopts his policy positions.
At the same time, it puts him at a disadvantage with more experienced rivals, for whom many contemporary issues are second nature.
That lack of depth and familiarity increases the chance of missteps, as well as outright contradictions with past policy views.
In Romney's case, critics have lambasted him for reversals on abortion rights, gay rights and tax policy.

His Chavez comment to a March 9 Lincoln Day dinner in Miami-Dade County, as well as his mispronunciation of the names of several prominent Cuban-Americans, set off a murmur within the crowd.

Kevin Madden, Romney's spokesman, said the speech was overwhelmingly well-received despite any mistakes.

"I think what's new is there is a higher level of scrutiny now because he's a presidential candidate," Madden said. "But as far as the governor's ideas, the substance of his proposals and his blueprint for America, this is the first time everybody is hearing it, and we are confident that the substance of his policies is what's going to bring more and more people to his campaign."

To read previous sightings click http://politicalspyglass.blogspot.com/

Mark Towner, Spyglass

Iran seizes 15 British Navy personnel

This Can't Be Good!


Iran seizes 15 British Navy personnel
By Aref Mohammed 52 minutes ago
BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iranian forces seized 15 British Royal Navy personnel who had searched a merchant ship on Friday, Britain said, triggering a diplomatic crisis at a time of heightened tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Britain said the incident took place in Iraqi waters, where it routinely boards merchant vessels with UN permission to search them. The Foreign Office summoned Iran's ambassador and demanded the immediate, safe release of the personnel.
The incident took place a day after
Iran' launched a week of naval war games along its coast, including the narrow northern reaches of the Gulf which control access to the vast oil reserves of Iraq' , Iran and Kuwait.
"This may well be a misunderstanding. We're certainly treating it as such at the moment. We're looking for the mistake to be corrected," said a British government source.

Read Full Story .....http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070323/ap_on_re_eu/british_seized_iran_8


To read previous sightings click http://politicalspyglass.blogspot.com/

Mark Towner, Spyglass

Utah needs to re-think 2008 Presidential Primary date

What with this latest news about New York, maybe the Governor and the Legislature needs to re-think our Utah primary. If we are going to spend the money, then lets get something for it.

Mark E. Towner
The Spyglass

NEW YORK (AFP) - New York on Wednesday became the latest US state to bring forward its 2008 primary presidential elections, joining nine other states in holding a February 5 vote on "Super Duper Tuesday" next year.

Read full story......

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070321/ts_alt_afp/usvote2008newyork_070321203926;_ylt=AhWH18rHm48S7jSP9Myh3PVh24cA

Republican right wants Condi

OK you Political Junkies. Write this day down as I will make a prediction of upcomming events in Washington. Vice President Cheney will resign from office for medical reasons, and Condi Rice will be named to replace him. This will mean the Republican President has named the First and Second African American's to the office of Secretary of State, and then the first female, African American to the office of Vice President. Once that happens, all bets are off on the GOP nomination.

Mark E. Towner,

The Spyglass

Die-Hards Still Want President Condi
by Dave Eberhart

Condi may shyly say "no" to seeking the highest office in the land, but her many grass-roots fans shout, "yes!"

In the latest Zogby poll released Feb. 26, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice finished fourth behind Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani in a poll of likely Republican primary voters.
In the same poll, she finished third among self-identified "conservative Republicans" — behind Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Numbers like this excite Richard Holt, the national director of ThinkCondi.net, who said during a recent radio interview that Rice's impressive poll numbers are simply out there — without spending tens of thousand of dollars to promote her as president.

Grass-Roots Phenomenon
The Condi phenomenon also inspires about a score of other Web sites and a whole collection of blogs, despite the fact that the former national security adviser has never declared for the highest office and has given no sign of doing so. But for just raw enthusiasm, just spend some time with Crystal Dueker, the communications director for ThinkCondi.
NewsMax did and found a delightful loyalist to one of the most admired women in America, if not the world.

Dueker reveals that she was initially inspired by NewsMax contributor and all-round political guru, Dick Morris.
"After reading Dick Morris's book, ‘Condi v Hillary,' I realized that there was something that I could do to make a difference. That's when I contacted others about starting up a Condi Rice group on my own," Dueker says.
Dueker says that she and her colleagues are behind what she describes as the only real grass-roots effort to recruit Rice.

"There are others Web sites and dozens of blogs which have been helping promote the message that Condi Rice needs to run and that if she runs, she is highly favored to win the nomination as president," Dueker says. "But we have contacted these groups and they are only interested in speaking up for Secretary Condi — while the actual building of an organization they are leaving to us."

Rock Star Appeal
On the subject of whether Condi has the star appeal of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Dueker is adamant.
"From reports in just the past year, she was a ‘rock star' at the Southern Baptist Convention in North Carolina, speaking passionately about defending our nation," Dueker admonishes. "People were overheard by reporters making comments that she should run for president and others who said, ‘I'll vote for her.'

"She was also a rock star at the American Legion convention in Utah — and she has been questioned around the world about running for president. Her job approval numbers are over 60 percent, and a recent Vogue magazine article also mentioned strong support for a future run for higher office by Condi."

Dueker also notes that in February 2007, Australian News columnist, Caroline Overington, wrote that Condi is a self-made woman who should run for president.
As to whether Condi has ever acknowledged her grass-roots support, Dueker says that during an interview on television, Secretary Rice was asked pointblank about the efforts of these groups promoting her for president. She said that she was flattered but that she was not going to run. However, when asked if she would tell the groups to stop what they were doing, she stated that it was their right to free speech.

Dueker was asked about people's reactions. "My car has bumper stickers ‘Condi Rice for President 2008,' and hundreds of people have honked their horns in support, and others say they hope she will actually run. From Iowa, to Texas, to Florida — most African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians have told me that her running would be a good thing for the Republican Party. She is someone who is greatly respected by most people of all genders and all ethnic backgrounds."

Never discouraged, Dueker works four to six hours daily collecting information to send to prospective supporters and even more time making phone calls and meeting with local supporters to ensure the building of a strong organization.
If Condi is perceived as being less than enthusiastic about running for national office, Dueker shrugs it off as a good — and perhaps necessary — thing for the time being.
"She must not be seen a shirking her duty as our secretary of state and trying to seek higher office at this moment," she explains. "Since her time is consumed by meeting world leaders in Russia, China, South Korea and Japan to resolve the North Korean crisis, or flying for days to the Middle East to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I understand that she can't be distracted at this time by thinking about running for president."

The Will of the People
Dueker sees Condi's position as the top diplomat in foreign policy as a proven jumping-off point.
"This the same position of experience which groomed Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Van Buren, and Buchanan," she notes.
Dueker draws a comparison with the reluctant Condi to Gens. U.S. Grant and Dwight Eisenhower — both the subject of draft campaigns.
"It all comes down to the will of the people to select their own leaders," she concludes.

You gatta Watch This.......

Tuesday March 20, 2007
That's the question.
First they win all the awards, and then they'll get served.
What a wild year ahead.

The Spyglass

Hillary E-mail: Get Karl Rove

From the NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story... Monday, March 19, 2007 3:51 p.m. EDT

Hillary Clinton last week sent out a mass e-mail asking supporters to sign a petition calling for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign. Now she’s set her sights even higher and revealed her real target: top presidential aide Karl Rove.
A new e-mail from Hillary’s campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle urges: "Let’s keep the pressure on. Since tens of thousands of you joined Hillary in calling for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign, we have learned even more about the political motivations behind the firings of several U.S. attorneys.

"We know now that the White House’s involvement goes even deeper than we thought – all the way to Karl Rove and beyond – and we likely won’t find out the whole story until there is a full Congressional investigation. But one thing is still clear: Alberto Gonzales needs to go.”

The e-mail, which again asks backers to sign the petition, was paid for by the Hillary Clinton for President Exploratory Committee.
© NewsMax 2007. All rights reserved.

Federal Watch List Has 400,000 Names

Federal Watch List Has 400,000 Names
By Ronald Kessler
A federal watch list of people connected to terrorism now has 400,000 names. The list, called the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE), is maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), established by President Bush in 2005.
“Whether it comes from an operations cable from the CIA or a very sensitive SIGINT [signals intelligence] from NSA, if there’s a piece of derogatory information on a known or suspected terrorist, it goes in that database,” Vice Adm. John Scott Redd, director of the NCTC, tells NewsMax.

Each electronic file on an individual includes hyperlinks to the originating information, including raw FBI files and, if available, fingerprint files and photographs. In the future, the files will link to iris scans, facial recognition, and DNA data.

Americans are included only if they have been convicted of terrorist activities or are under investigation by the FBI. The standard is far lower for people overseas.
Definition of a TerroristIn an interview, Russell E. Travers, who is in charge of the NCTC list as deputy director for information sharing and knowledge development, raised the question of how one defines a terrorist.

“If you swear allegiance to bin Laden, that’s pretty easy,” he said. “If you went to a training camp and have a history of blowing up U.S. interests, that’s pretty easy also. What if you went to a training camp, but then you decided you didn’t like this and went home? What if you are the brother of someone who swore loyalty to bin Laden? What if you are a member of an Islamic non-governmental organization, and some in that organization have clearly funneled money to al-Qaida? So the point is that this can become very gray. And given that we’re dealing with information that may be contradictory or it may be partial, this can be a difficult balance for us. We look at all the evidence and try to apply a reasonable standard.”

In the case of a foreign individual, “If someone was in a safe house, and we just have a name that they were in some way associated with a known al-Qaida guy, then even though we may have no other derogatory information beyond that, that would be enough to get them in TIDE and get them on a watch list, so that they won’t be able to get a visa to come to the country,” Travers says.

From the TIDE database, the NCTC extracts the name, date of birth, and some additional basic information to identify each possible terrorist. The NCTC passes those names, each tagged with a TIDE number, to the Terrorist Screening Center maintained by the FBI. Those names then form the basis for the no-fly list and other lists checked by U.S. Customs officers and State Department officers issuing visas. The FBI includes the names on its National Crime Information Center list that police officers check when stopping traffic violators, apprehending fugitives, or identifying stolen property.

If a traffic violator who is stopped in Maine is on the list as a possible terrorist, the officer at the scene can call the Terrorist Screening Center and obtain instructions. If the man is wanted, the officer will arrest him. Or the local Joint Terrorism Task Force may be called into action to conduct surveillance of the individual.

Tracking Aliases
While the classified NCTC list has 400,000 names, 300,000 of them are separate individuals. The extra entries are aliases or different spellings of the same name. For example, there are dozens of ways to spell names like Muhammed. Osama bin Laden alone has more than half a dozen names or nicknames, including Mohammad. Usama bin Muhammad bin Ladin, Shaykh Usama bin Ladin, the Prince, the Emir, Abu Abdallah, Mujahid Shaykh, Hajj, and the Director.
The number of names on the no-fly list, maintained with the Transportation Security Administration, is far smaller. Only people who might pose a danger to civil aviation are supposed to be included, but there have been plenty of mix-ups.

A deputy assistant director of the FBI once found himself on the list. Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy had a close encounter with the list when trying to take the U.S. Airways shuttle out of Washington to Boston. According to Kennedy, the ticket agent would not let him on the plane. With help from an airport supervisor, Kennedy was able to fly home, but then the same thing happened coming back to Washington.

“This is not an exact science,” Travers says. “But it is one of many defenses that the government has for trying to keep prospective bad guys out of the country.”
In some cases, the FBI may override the no-fly list because the bureau wants a terrorist to enter the country so agents can arrest him or follow him.

The ACLU and other civil liberties advocates have complained that there is something inherently insidious about the number of names on the lists. Timothy Sparapani, the ACLU’s legislative counsel for privacy rights, has called the numbers “shocking but, unfortunately, not surprising.”

When the watch list had 300,000 names, he said, “We have lists that are having baby lists at this point; they’re spawning faster than rabbits. If we have over 300,000 known terrorists who want to do this country harm, we’ve got a much bigger problem than deciding which names go on which list. But I highly doubt that is the case.”

Yet the problem before 9/11 was that there were too few names on the lists. Back then, the government maintained four different classified terrorist identity databases and 13 independent watch lists. It was in part because the databases were incompatible that two of the 9/11 hijackers managed to slip into the country.

Before 9/11, “The classified databases and the watch lists didn’t interact,” says Travers. “So the reason that Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi [two of the 9/11 hijackers] didn’t get watch listed was because parts of the government knew about them, but that information was not percolated all over the place.”

Typically, up to 50 people are denied entry to the U.S. each day because they are on the lists. Five or seven of those people may be on the no-fly list. There is a direct correlation between possible terrorists who are denied entry to the U.S. and the fact that we have not been attacked in over five years.

When it was revealed that the government rated travelers who fly in and out of the country by degree of possible threat, critics said the criteria should be revealed and that travelers should have the right to see their ratings and challenge them. Of course, that would only undermine the effectiveness of the risk assessment program.

Protecting the List
If a terrorist could find out what criteria were used and how information was rated, he could circumvent the system. Letting travelers know what the criteria are would make as much sense as the Internal Revenue Service forewarning a taxpayer before he files his tax return which portion of his return the IRS plans to audit. Rather than invading privacy, the risk rating system is a way to narrow scrutiny of millions of travelers and protect them from another attack.

What the ACLU forgets is that people from other countries do not have a right to enter the U.S. Inevitably, some will be listed in error. But the alternative is to limit the list so much that terrorists can enter the country and pull off another 9/11 attack.

Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of NewsMax.com.View his previous reports and get his dispatches sent to you FREEvia e-mail. Go Here Now.
Ronald Kessler Takes You Inside the Bush White House, the CIA, the FBI, and Congress.

Prosecutor's Firing Was Urged During Probe

Prosecutor's Firing Was Urged During Probe
By Dan EggenWashington Post Staff WriterMonday, March 19, 2007; Page A03
The U.S. attorney in San Diego notified the Justice Department of search warrants in a Republican bribery scandal last May 10, one day before the attorney general's chief of staff warned the White House of a "real problem" with her, a Democratic senator said yesterday.

Read Entire Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/18/AR2007031801263.html

The Spyglass

Ridgway gets the Boot

The Full Story.....

http://spyglass.townhall.com/g/28cee79f-496b-4f8a-a923-d31677ddb3cd

The Spyglass

Iraqis: life is getting better

Marie Colvin
MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein, according to a British opinion poll published today.

The survey of more than 5,000 Iraqis found the majority optimistic despite their suffering in sectarian violence since the American-led invasion four years ago this week.
One in four Iraqis has had a family member murdered, says the poll by Opinion Research Business. In Baghdad, the capital, one in four has had a relative kidnapped and one in three said members of their family had fled abroad. But when asked whether they preferred life under Saddam, the dictator who was executed last December, or under Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, most replied that things were better for them today.
Only 27% think there is a civil war in Iraq, compared with 61% who do not, according to the survey carried out last month.
Related Links
Resilient Iraqis ask what civil war?
Violence slashed as troop surge hits Baghdad
By a majority of two to one, Iraqis believe military operations now under way will disarm all militias. More than half say security will improve after a withdrawal of multinational forces.
Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, said the findings pointed to progress. "There is no widespread violence in the four southern provinces and the fact that the picture is more complex than the stereotype usually portrayed is reflected in today's poll," she said.
Have your say

GOP dissident out of jail for now

Update: Ridgway Charged

Case# 00740750Charge: Criminal Trespass (Upgraded to Class B Misdemeanor)Arraignment: 4-26-07

Republican Party dissident Michael Ridgway is out of jail after spending about 120 hours in the Salt Lake County lockup facility. Ridgway said he was released Tuesday night and no charges had been filed against him as of late Wednesday. However, the Salt Lake City prosecutor's office could file charges later, and Ridgway said he would have to post a $7,000 bond to avoid going back to jail. Ridgway was arrested by police who were called to county and state party headquarters last Thursday. He was arrested for investigation of criminal trespass, stalking and violating a no-contact court order, jail records show, although Ridgway denies he violated any of those laws. Asked if he would try to attend another county GOP executive committee meeting in the future, Ridgway said: "Why shouldn't I go?" However, he added that he wouldn't likely try again without a police escort to prove to GOP leaders that he was abiding by a previous no-contact order obtained by Republican Party leaders Mark and Carrie Towner.

Ridgway has been arguing with county and state party leaders for years and was stripped of his party offices two years ago. The no-contact court order, which Ridgway is appealing to the Utah Supreme Court, says that Ridgway can't come within 20 feet of the Towners. Ridgway complains that party leaders are purposely holding meetings in a small conference room at party headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City and if he goes into the room he is closer than 20 feet from the Towners. He said he called police last Thursday asking that an officer assist him to attend the meeting but no officer showed up. And after Ridgway walked into the party headquarters, GOP county chairman James Evans told him to leave. Ridgway said he did walk out, but police then arrived and arrested him. Ridgway said at no time did any party leader tell him that he was banned from GOP headquarters — and so he was not violating any trespass law — adding that officials are breaking their own open-process rules by threatening him with trespass arrest should he attend a meeting. But Evans says Ridgway will not be allowed to "disrupt" any executive committee meetings — which Evans says he can close to non-members any time he likes — and police will be called should Ridgway try to attend one in the future.

Real Deal falling apart?

Real investor Goldman Sachs pulls out of deal

By Leigh Dethman and Amelia Nielson-StowellDeseret Morning News

Big-time investment firm Goldman Sachs has pulled out as an investor for the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium. The global financier's real estate arm, Whitehall, was going to own a 50 percent share of the team with Real owner Dave Checketts' company Sports Capital Parnters. Another New York real-estate development firm will now step in as a 50 percent owner of the team. The firm, which Real officials declined to name, will also invest $24 million in the stadium project, another $24 million in other Real business ventures, and secure a $33 million construction loan for the stadium. "It doesn't change our business plan at all," team spokesman Eric Gelfand said. "They are stepping right in to what Goldman was investing." Sources say Whitehall grew impatient with the never-ending stadium negotiations and pulled out. Representatives from the investment firm could not be reached late Friday.

It just took so long. It went on forever," said Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. "It was supposed to be done a year ago." Negotiations to give the team millions in public funds hit roadblocks throughout 2006. But last month, the Legislature approved a last-minute funding package for the stadium, with $35 million of Salt Lake County's hotel-room tax revenue. Currently, the team is also having troubles with a parking plan around the site at 9256 S. State Street. Thursday night, Sandy's planning commission recommended that $10 million the city has pledged to use towards infrastructure not be given to the team until crucial parking problems are solved. Per the state's $35 million funding package, $20 million must be used for 1,000 new parking stalls within a 5-minute radius from the stadium. The majority of the other spots will be temporary spots within a five- to 15-minute walk from the stadium. How to funnel 21,000 soccer fans from the stadium to their cars is of concern to Sandy city staff and elected officials.
E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com; astowell@desnews.com

Al-Qaida No. 3 says he planned 9/11 Attack

Al-Qaida No. 3 says he planned 9/11
By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed portrayed himself as al-Qaida's most ambitious operational planner in a confession to a U.S. military tribunal that said he planned and supported 31 terrorist attacks, topped by 9/11, that killed thousands of innocent victims since the early 1990s.

The Full Story.....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070315/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_terrorist_confession_34

I say we take this guy up in an C-130 airplane to 20,000 feet and make him walk the plank. Then he can experience what some of the people who jumped out of the WTC endured. This dude needs to suffer.

The Spyglass

House panel considers pros, cons of a 4th seat

By Suzanne StruglinskiDeseret Morning News
WASHINGTON — A proposed fourth seat in Congress for Utah has constitutional questions, experts said at a House hearing Wednesday, but three of the four witnesses believe a bill creating the seat and granting a vote for the District of Columbia can move forward. The debate will continue today as the House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the bill, which will determine if it gets a House floor vote. Supporters of the bill expect a floor vote by the end of the month, although it will not be without harsh criticism as illustrated on Wednesday. "Permit me to be blunt, I consider this act to be the most premeditated unconstitutional act by Congress in decades," said Jonathan Turley, the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at the George Washington University Law School.

Rest of the Story: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660203371,00.html

The Spyglass

HAGEL Who? Click on Picture

Jay Leno: Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel—he’s a Republican—called a press conference to announce he’ll be making a decision about running for president sometime later in the year. So, he called a press conference to say maybe later in the year he’s going to say something important. This is the kind of bold, decisive leadership this country needs......

I rest my case!

The Spyglass

Ex-Utahn resigns amid D.C. scandal

Ex-Utahn resigns amid D.C. scandalFormer Utah-based attorney and Brigham Young University graduate D. Kyle Sampson resigned Monday as chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in the midst of a growing scandal involving eight fired U.S. attorneys.

The Spyglass

Ridgway released, but will he be charged by Gill?

Paul Rolly writes " Getting more bizarre: Salt Lake City Prosecutor Sim Gill filed trespassing charges against Republican dissident Mike Ridgway on Tuesday. This despite Salt Lake County Republican Chairman James Evans' fear that Ridgway, a persistent thorn in the party's side, would escape charges because Gill is a Democrat. Ridgway, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on Friday on charges of violating a protective order, stalking and criminal trespass. He was arrested when Republican officials solicited help from the police to remove him from a GOP executive committee meeting. Because of his alleged disruptive behavior, he has been banned from leadership positions in the party and banished from their meetings. One party activist has a protective order requiring Ridgway to stay away from him and his family. I erroneously said in my blog Monday that Ridgway had bailed out. Actually, he has remained in jail since Friday."

All this is news to my wife and I who have a protective order against Ridgway. The Salt Lake City Police were kind enough to let us know that Ridgway was going to be released last night, and if he showed up anywhere close to our home to call 911 and they would come and pick him back up. Messages left with the Mr. Gill's office have not been returned as of Wednesday morning.

The Spyglass

GOP dissident Ridgway is jailed in Salt Lake County

By Bob Bernick Jr.Deseret Morning News

A longtime Utah Republican Party dissident, Michael Ridgway, has been sitting in the Salt Lake County Jail since Thursday night, in lockup for apparently violating a stalking injunction and criminal trespass when he tried to attend a Salt Lake County GOP executive board meeting. "Mike knew that he couldn't attend meetings" in the county and state offices, which he had already been barred from coming into, said Salt Lake County GOP Chairman James Evans.

Full Story: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660202859,00.html

And Here: http://blogs.sltrib.com/politics/2007/03/cant-we-all-get-along.htm

The Spyglass

Mt. Holly Club Selected as Prestigious Jack Nicklaus Club

Mt. Holly Club Selected as Prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club
New Course Is Centerpiece of World's Only Ski-in/Ski-out, Golf-in/Golf-out
Private Luxury Resort

Full Story: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=SPORTNET.story&STORY=/www/story/03-07-2007/0004541269&EDATE=WED+Mar+07+2007,+08:00+AM


The Spyglass

Home Security Video

Very funny Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-WC5Q4kjE8

Mark

Jim Sumpter Show, give him a call!

Hey you Political Junkies out there, Have you ever tried to get on one of the National Talk Shows like Limbaugh, Hannity, or even KSL with Doug, but no luck? Here is a Nation wide syndicated show that you can watch (like Rush) but it’s free and you can actually talk with the host. They are taking advantage of the internet like it should be. Check it out today http://www.jimsumptershow.com/c/

Give Jim a call, and let him know you saw this on the Political Spyglass


Mark

New Bloghives Created

I have created several new Bloghives that you should check out.

The Bloghive: http://www.thebloghive.com/
Golf Bloghive: http://www.golfbloghive.com/
Investor Bloghive: http://www.investorbloghive.com/
Ski Bloghive: http://www.thesnowpac.com/

If you know of some good links to blogs for these sites, send them along to thespyglass@sent.com

Mark Towner,
The Spyglass

Cheney Exit, Rice Entry Could Alter 2008 Race

Vice President Dick Cheney's health problems have triggered speculation that he may be forced to step down, a move that could potentially throw the Republican 2008 presidential nomination race into disarray.
Although only 66, Cheney has suffered four heart attacks in the past and has undergone angioplasty and bypass surgery. This week, he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg. Blood clots can travel to the lungs and result in a pulmonary embolism - a sudden blockage of blood flow in an artery in the lung - one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.
In the event of the vice presidency becoming vacant through resignation or death, the Constitution requires the president to nominate a vice president who must be confirmed by majority vote of both houses of Congress.
Bush would find it difficult to get a Democratic-controlled Congress to approve a conservative nominee, analysts say. At the same time, neither of the leading GOP 2008 presidential aspirants - former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani or Sen. John McCain of Arizona - would be eager to be seen as President Bush's heir apparent, should he tap either of them for the job.

Rest of the Story: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/3/8/123210.shtml?s=icp

Mark Towner,

The Spyglass

Here is a Great Idea to help Remote Utah Communities Grow

As many of you know, I'm a former Alaskan and I continue to follow the news up north. This is an article from the Daily Miner in Fairbanks

Too good to pass up: City of Anderson giving away free land
Staff ReportPublished March 7, 2007

Kids say the darndest things.
That is likely what the Anderson City Council thought when a class of students suggested the city lure people to the remote Parks Highway community by giving away free land. But the more they thought about it, the more they liked the plan. So, as of March 19, at 9 a.m., prospective landowners can put down a $500 deposit for a free lot in Anderson’s Northern Lights Subdivision.

“This will be on a first-come, first-serve application process,” city clerk Nancy Hollis said. “The person who is first on the list gets to pick a lot of their choice.”
There are 26 lots available, located behind the Anderson Fire Hall and near the Riverside Park. Each lot is 1.3 acres and includes electric and phone service already installed.
In exchange for the free land, the owner must build a minimum 1,000-square-foot residence within two years. Check with the city clerk for specific covenants. Lots will be selected in April.
“The purpose of this incentive is to encourage construction of new homes,” Hollis said. “We also hope to increase school and community population.”
The boom in population, expected when the Air National Guard moved into Clear Air Force Base, never happened because of a lack of housing. Those military families found housing in Healy, Nenana and Fairbanks.
What is amazing is that students — Daryl Frisbie’s class — sold the idea to the city council with a well-thought presentation.
“That changed their minds,” Hollis said. “They thought maybe this is something that could work.”
For information on the program, contact the city clerk at 582-2500 or e-mail coaclerk@mtaonline.net or visit http://www.anderson.govoffice.com/ and click on Free Lots.

Cyberbullying targeted

Cyberbullying targeted
It is added as focus of Power in You program
By Tiffany EricksonDeseret Morning News
Lisa Read said she lived with harassment and fear for a month as anonymous calls habitually haunted her during the night.

Kevin Lee, for the Deseret Morning News
Utah's first lady, Mary Kaye Huntsman, discusses the Power in You foundation, which works on helping youths deal with issues like bullying, substance abuse and suicide. A ring would jolt her out of bed, and a male caller would make suggestive and harassing comments that left her uneasy. The caller knew her ex-boyfriends, that she was on the dance team and where she went to school, but refused to reveal his identity. "I felt unsafe in school, violated and disrespected from such cowardly and faceless acts," said the Taylorsville High School student. After about a month, the phone stopped ringing. But the experience was unwelcome and offensive — and a prime example of the kind of cyberbullying a large number of students deal with every day. Mary Kaye Huntsman announced Tuesday that cyberbullying is a new category in her Power in You foundation, a youth program that addresses issues such as substance abuse, suicide, bullying, gangs and eating disorders, and directs students to resources that can provide support. Cyberbullying includes using technology such as telephones, instant messages, Web pages, digital cameras and e-mail to harass, hurt or threaten people — something experts say has touched more than a third of U.S. teens who use the Internet. "When we think back, our biggest concern was checking 'yes' or 'no' on notes and not getting caught," Leigh VandenAkker, a teacher at Taylorsville High, said during a Power in You press conference. "Notes are the least of our worries now — enter the world of technology." Huntsman said she hopes to make parents aware of the growing problem of cyberbullying while teaching teens what they can do to protect themselves. Capt. Chris Ahearn of the Utah Attorney General's Office said cyber-harassment, threats and exploitations are taken seriously in Utah.

He said many people who engage in cyberbullying incorrectly assume they can remain anonymous. But thanks to technology, officials can zero in on and prosecute offenders. If someone finds themselves a victim of cyberbullying, they should not retaliate and, if possible, stop using the site all together. And if a victim receives threats or suggestions of a sexual nature, they should contact law enforcement. "There are really a lot of cool things going on with technology — this is your sandbox, but you have to play nicely. Otherwise, you can't play," said Steve Fletcher, chief information officer over technology for the state of Utah. For more information on what to do and how to report cyberbullying, visit http://www.powerinyou.org/.

New Huntsman appointee loves taking on challenges

Cox quick to dismiss her disability as she gets set to head Workforce Services
By Glen Warchol The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune

Kristen Cox laughs when she remembers the voter response to her foray into Maryland elective politics last year. "The reaction was, 'A blind Mormon woman running for lieutenant governor? How weird is that?'" Cox, 37, who will arrive in Utah next week to take over as director of the state Department of Workforce Services, has overcome her share of challenges, even before her unsuccessful political debut as running mate to former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich in 2006. Cox has served as President Bush's special assistant to the commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Department of Education. Her close political ties with Ehrlich stem from his asking her to head in 2003 his newly formed Department of Disabilities, the nation's first Cabinet-level position of its kind. Cox had met Ehrlich a few years earlier when he was a Maryland congressman and she was a lobbyist for the National Federation for the Blind, based in Baltimore. She acknowledges her first experience in election politics was "very intense, very humbling." On top of the gubernatorial campaign pressure and her Cabinet responsibilities, Cox and her husband Randy, have two children Tanner, 11, and 22-month-old Riley. Ehrlich's campaign attributed his defeat to voter backlash nationwide against the Iraq War and anger at the GOP-controlled Congress. In Democratic-dominated Maryland, a Republican victory depends on cross-over votes. The failed run "was a very appealing opportunity," Cox says. "To get things done, you have to take risks." And even as voters cast ballots against Ehrlich, they said they were impressed by his running mate. "At the end of the day, it was my blindness, not my being Mormon, that most people responded to," Cox says. "But the combination was unique and it got us a lot of positive press coverage." If there's a career challenge that Cox understates, it's her blindness. "It's an inconvenience in my life," she says. "You learn to work around it." Cox began losing her vision at age 11 as a result of a degenerative genetic condition. The loss came gradually and, at first, she was able to get by with magnifiers and large print books. During her studies at Brigham Young University, however, her vision "took a big dive," she says. "I had some rocky moments in the beginning." She was forced to memorize much of her course content from lectures and by having texts read to her. She graduated in 1995 in educational psychology, certified as special-education teacher. Before graduation, Cox went on an LDS church mission to rural areas of Brazil, futilely lugging along a powerful magnifier. "It was broken when I got there," she remembers. "I was moving around rural areas a lot and repaired units took a long time to get to me. And when I plugged it in in rural areas, it burned out again." Cox has since learned braille, which she uses to read to her children. Virginia Knowlton, executive director of the Maryland Disability Law Center, which has sued the state of Maryland over poor performance on paratransit and other disability services, has praise for Cox, if not the Department of Disabilities. "She accomplished some good things in her role as secretary," Knowlton says. "We were frustrated that she wasn't given more authority and funding that would have allowed the department to do more." Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. spokesman Mike Mower said Cox came to the governor's attention during her campaign with Ehrlich. "Kristen came with strong recommendations as a dynamic leader." Despite her Utah roots - Cox grew up in Sandy and graduated from Brighton High School - and solid political credentials, Cox may not be the kind of Republican Utah's arch-conservatives appreciate. "I consider myself a moderate," she says, but emphasizes that political labels can be misleading. Though Cox believes in government involvement in bringing disabled Americans into schools and the workplace, she argues it is a "two-way street" and the disabled must return on society's investment. Also, as a politically ambitious working mom, feminists - not Utah's most popular group - would welcome Cox into their ranks. "Women have so much to offer. The folks back here in the [Maryland] Mormon community have been extremely supportive," she says of her balancing career and family. "I know there can be that division between homemakers and women at work. I would be disappointed to encounter it in Utah - in fact, I know I won't." Knowlton has a suggestion for Cox's superiors: "She's bright and capable. Give her the reins and give her some money, and she'll accomplish some good things for Utah."

Rudy Giuliani Fundraiser March 30th

Rudy Giuliani Fundraiser
An evening honoring former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani will be held Friday, March 30 at the home of Kelly and Stephen Harmsen to benefit the Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee. A host reception with photo opportunity will be held from 6-6:30 p.m. costing $2,300 per person or $4,600 per couple. A cocktail reception costing $1,000 per person will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kristy Coleman, 801.604.6303.

McCain Staffers Bail Off the Crazy Train

From D.C. CONFIDENTIAL
OFF THE RAILS McCainJohn McCain's Obama-esque remarks about our "wasted" resources in Iraq weren't the only comments that landed him in hot water after a recent appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. Many of his staff were blindsided by his campaign announcement. And several aides were so outraged that they've quit, say Republican insiders.
"They're imploding—he had a game plan that had him announcing much later in the year," one top Republican aide tells Radar, adding that the campaign is "in serious trouble ... Romney's plan and Rudy's jump in the polls caused him to scrap his plans completely. When you do that, and you're not prepared for it, the staff goes crazy. Some of his coordinators in different states were pulling their hair out!"
Another insider, a guru to the conservative movement, says that McCain himself is growing increasingly desperate in the wake of his downward slide in the polls—a slip hastened by his steadfast support of the very man who savaged him and his family during the 2000 election, George W. Bush, and the president's unpopular plan for troop surge in Iraq. "One of the top aides to the Republican leadership told me that McCain has lost so much support, he's simply beside himself. He's wringing his hands. Things are sinking fast—in two or three weeks, we'll know if there is any recovery."
It didn't help any that McCain was the one leading Republican candidate who skipped last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference. In CPAC's straw poll on Saturday, McCain came in fifth place—behind Sam Brownback. When the results were announced, attendees booed at the mention of his name.

McCain's Snub Stuns Conservatives

Ronald KesslerMonday, March 5, 2007

Aides to opponents of Sen. John McCain said they were "stunned" by his decision not to show up at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.
After rejecting invitations to speak to the 6,000 attendees, McCain tried to schedule a private reception without clearing the request with CPAC. By then, all the rooms at the Omni Shoreham had been booked.
"It was a classic McCain move, dissing us by going behind our backs," said William J. Lauderback, executive vice president of the American Conservative Union, which sponsors the three-day conference.
"If you diss the girl before the dance, you're not going to be dancing with the girl when the music starts," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union.

Entire Story : http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/3/4/201258.shtml?s=sr

Mark E Towner, The Spyglass

Annie & George W

Annie is a close friend to my youngest daughter (also a pilot) who is in Washington DC. These are pictures she took and some narative.

"Look: it's President Bush! It took so long to get through security for this. He spoke for about 45 minutes. We were at an event for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (I am not exactly sure what this organization is, sounds like a good lobby to me though), so he was mostly speaking about Latin and South America and the people there. It occurred to me he might be pissing them off because he kept just giving examples of what America had done well there. Look at how we impacted this Bolivian farmer, or this 10-year-old in Peru or Guatemala's life. I felt like he didn't say what was going to happen, except that he is visiting all those countries later this week.

It was very cool though, I was probably the farthest person away and I still felt like I had a great seat. It was at the Ronald Reagan Auditorium in someplace they call the Federal Triangle. Definitely not tons of people or anything though.

He stumbled several times, but didn't say anything too ridiculous. Aside from all the Tex-Mex he used. At the begining when everyone was talking he told us all the Sientanse and chuckled to himself. Then, once when he said George Washington's name he paused and said "Jorge Doble-U" and he was pretty happy with himself for that one.

Love, Annie"

Mark E Towner, The Spyglass

Giuliani up 25 points over McCain

47 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani, virtually tied with John McCain (news, bio, voting record) in a January poll, held a 25-point lead over the Arizona senator in a Newsweek magazine survey released on Saturday.

Among registered Republicans, 59 percent said they backed the former New York City mayor and 34 percent said they favored McCain, who announced on Wednesday he would seek the presidency in 2008, Newsweek said.
"Most registered Republicans are not familiar with Giuliani's positions on key social issues," the magazine said, listing his support for abortion rights and gun control as examples.
"When asked about whether Giuliani's views on these same issues would be enough to prevent them from supporting him, few registered Republican voters said it would," it said.

Full Story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070303/pl_nm/usa_republicans_poll_dc

Mark E Towner, The Spyglass

Romney first choice in conservative poll

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney won the most support for the Republican presidential nomination in a straw poll of GOP activists attending an annual conference.

Despite his record of inconsistency on some social issues, the former Massachusetts governor got 21 percent of the 1,705 votes cast by paid registrants to the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference. They were asked who their first choice would be for the Republican nomination.
Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor whose moderate stances on social issues irks the party's right wing, was second with 17 percent.

Full Story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070303/ap_on_el_pr/conservatives_notebook

Mark E Towner, The Spyglass

Giuliani Edges Out McCain in Perceptions of Viability for Presidency

by Lydia Saad

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- With former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain dominating Republican preferences for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, the GOP race is very much a "Tale of Two Candidates" at this point. A new Gallup Panel survey, conducted Feb. 22-25, 2007, also finds Giuliani and McCain holding huge advantages over the rest of the Republican field in their perceived chances of winning the general election. However, between Giuliani and McCain, Giuliani has the advantage in public perceptions of each man's chances of becoming president -- particularly with Republicans. (Results for the same question about the Democratic candidates are reported separately. See "Democrats View Hillary Clinton as Most Electable Democratic Candidate" in Related Items.)

Read the full story: http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=26740

Mark Towner, The Spyglass

Giuliani stresses record, woos U.S. conservatives

Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani acknowledged his differences with the party's conservative base on Friday but said bigger principles should be at stake in the race for the White House.
The former New York mayor led a parade of six Republican White House contenders who wooed frustrated conservatives at an annual convention. He asked the activists to look past his support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.
Giuliani, dubbed "America's Mayor" for his leadership after the September 11 attacks, touted his New York record of reducing crime, cutting city taxes and moving people from welfare to jobs.
"We all don't see eye to eye on everything. You and I have a lot of common beliefs that are the same, and we have some that are different," Giuliani told attendees at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070302/pl_nm/usa_politics_republicans_dc_1&printer=1;_ylt=AhLHh8YdlZNExX2Yj3XpJvMb.3QA

McCain visits Huntsman, set to attend fund-raisers during Utah stopover

Just hours after announcing his 2008 presidential bid on David Letterman's late-night television show, Arizona Sen. John McCain arrived in Utah today for an overnight stay that includes meetings with a fellow Republican, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Tom Smart, Deseret Morning News

Arizona Sen. John McCain, left, and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. arrive at the governor's manion in Salt Lake City Thursday. Huntsman is backing McCain as the GOP presidential candidate. Huntsman is backing McCain despite the popularity in Utah of another GOP presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is credited with saving the scandal-tainted 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660199824,00.html

The Spyglass

Huntsman / Herbert Team hit Grand Slam

Here is a report card of the success of the 2007 session.

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660199741,00.html

Well Done,

The Spyglass

Romney losing edge in New Hampshire

Romney losing edge in New Hampshire
By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 39 minutes ago
BOSTON - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney can campaign in New Hampshire and still sleep at night in his own bed in Massachusetts. Yet, the neighbor's edge has been less than a home-court advantage in the nation's first 2008 presidential primary state.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070301/ap_on_el_ge/romney_new_hampshire_1

The Spyglass

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.