Check out, "The Message"

Democrats and Utah Progressives,

In the July edition of The Message (click here) the monthly newsletter of the Utah Democratic Party, Chair Wayne Holland says the presidential candidates visiting Utah this summer have sparked energy and excitement. "The challenge for us now is to build the fire."

Also in the newsletter ...

• Sen. Barack Obama will visit Park City on Aug. 5. To attend, call Adia Smith, (310) 277-2008, or e-mail, asmith@barackobama.com.
• Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson makes a late-summer push for his 2nd District constituents.
• The Indiana-based message meister of the voucher crowd targets Utah Democrats.
• Vice Chair Rob Miller says you missed a lot if you missed the JJ Celebration and organizing convention.
• Americans spoke, House Democrats listened, Republicans obstructed.
• And can you believe Chris Cannon, Mitt Romney, Mike Noel, Carl Wimmer, Stephen Urquhart, and Margaret Dayton? The latest outrages brought to you courtesy of the Grand Old Party.

Bill Keshlear
Director of Communications, Utah Democratic Party

One party rule is not a good thing

By Adam Ford

“It is always a burden to run with an R for Republican after their name.”

Mitt Romney

This amazing YouTube video captures the truth about Utah politics, spoken by Utah’s darling Presidential candidate Willard Mitt Romney.

One party rule in Utah is not a good thing. Even Republicans, in their more honest moments will admit this is true.

The headline quote above is from the video—the context is clearly running as a Republican in Massachusetts is a burden. I understand. Running as a Democrat in Utah is an electoral burden. Because just as in Massachusetts many people vote blindly Democratic, in Utah the unthinking Republican vote is pervasive. I condemn tribal partisan voting on both sides. All honest, qualified, hard working candidates should be given sincere consideration. And the candidate that best represents the positions and interests of the individual voter should be selected by that voter. It is a shame that politics has become so tribal on both sides.

I hope Republicans in Utah will watch this clip and think about what Mitt is saying. One party rule is not healthy to democracy—you get things like special treatment for free-spending toxic polluters, school vouchers, and no lobbying reform—each decision at direct odds with the wishes of the vast majority of Utah voters. We need more balance in Utah. It is time to send more Democrats to the state legislature.

Where have all the leaders gone?

Last weekend I picked up the new book by Lee Iacocca, titled "Where Have All The Leaders Gone?". In his usual refreshing, blunt style, Iacocca dishes out lots of criticism of our nation's leaders, but also offers some common sense suggestions about how we can get back on track.

His harshest criticism is reserved for President Bush, who he actually campaigned for in 2000. For example, decrying the "Swift Boat" attacks against John Kerry as the worst example of partisanship, he lambastes the "AWOL National Guardsman in Chief" for "the ugliest thing I've ever seen in politics - and that's saying a lot. I was disgusted by it." Iacocca criticises the President for the Iraq War, the power-hungry attacks on the Constitution, his inability to listen, tax cuts for the wealthy ("thanks, but I didn't need it"), the lack of progress on major issues like health care and education, etc.

There's plenty of criticism reserved for Democratic leaders also. But the main criticism of the book is leveled at us average Americans - for putting up with this mess, for our horrible voting participation compared to other democracies, and for our preoccupation with trivial things at the expense of maintaining our democracy. He hopes to get Americans, especially young Americans, angry about the state of our nation, "as soon as I can pry them away from their iPods for five seconds and get them to pay attention."

In the book, Iaccoca offers the "Nine C's of Leadership" that we should use as a yardstick to judge candidates in the next election cycle: curiosity, creative, communicate, character, courage, conviction, charisma, competent, common sense. He holds this yardstick up to current leaders - and some of the current crop of Presidential candidates - and encourages us to do the same.

"Where Have All The Leaders Gone?" was an honest, refreshing look at the state of our nation and what we need to do to fix it, from a guy who reminds me of Harry Truman. (Jeff Bell ought to enjoy it!)

Davis County Clipper's Party Lines: Should CHIPS be extended?

DEMOCRAT: Are needy children at the core of the CHIP debate?
Clipper Editorial Opinion 24.JUL.07
By Davis County Democratic Chair, Richard Watson

Nine-and-a-half years ago, Governor Mike Leavitt presented the first Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) card to a family from Sevier County. Since then, thousands of uninsured Utah children have benefited from the federal and state funded children’s insurance program. CHIP, was created in 1997 by a Democratic President and Republican Congress. Because of the millions of children that have been insured, Congress is looking to reauthorize and expand CHIP past the September 2007 expiration date.

However, President Bush has threatened a veto if the extension of CHIP is passed. And to lobby for Bush’s veto, Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has met some Republican opposition from the threat, including Senator Hatch. Hatch, in an unusual agreement with Democratic Senators, insists that a 61¢ increase in tobacco taxes would help fund the CHIP expansion. This fund will add over 3 million new children to the program while keeping almost 7 million in CHIP.

Locally, CHIP has seen some amount of success in covering the uninsured children of Utah. But over the past few years, our Republican controlled Legislature has resisted in expanding CHIP in Utah by capping enrollment, even though most Utahn’s (about 87%) feel that CHIP is important. Even if Congress does extend CHIP, our legislators still have to fund the state portion of the insurance. But, over the years, Utah Republican Legislators have had a disappointing record of helping children.

In Utah, one out of eight children (about 71,000) has no access to health care. It is interesting to note that the majority of these children live in households where the parents work. Sadly, these parents are working in jobs without health insurance coverage. The question then, is why do we have lawmakers in Utah that campaign on “family” values, yet every year they fail to properly address the needs of Utah’s children to be healthy and educated?

The answer is found in the often used slogans of “socialism” will take over or they believe in the “free-market” system. Of course, none of these slogans have ever produced any solutions to our health care crisis. I have a hard time believing that our country will turn into some “communist dictatorship” just because we want to take care of the medical needs of low-income families. Of all the social programs that have passed in this country, I have yet to see any “black U.N. helicopters” flying around. Furthermore, it is hypocritical for those elected leaders to claim themselves as “Pro-Life” and then neglect the child after birth. It is disturbing to see this lack of compassion for children. The time is now to free ourselves from the nonsensical and fearful rhetoric of “burdening our government” and keep our moral obligation of helping the neediest, especially the children. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future”.

Hopefully, our congressmen and our legislators will do the right thing by taking care of our future with healthy children.

REPUBLICAN: Are needy children at the core of the CHIP debate?
Clipper Editorial Opinion 24.JUL.07
By Utah State Republican Vice Chair, Todd Weiler

Last week featured a standoff between Senator Orrin Hatch and Housing Secretary Mike Leavitt over the renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”). The standoff is especially intriguing in light of the fact that Leavitt will be out of a job in January 2009, and many believe he has his eye on a seat in the U.S. Senate.

CHIP was designed to assist children of the working poor, whose parents make too much for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance. It has been successful for 10 years and covers 6.6 million children. Hatch claims he wants to put kids first, and doesn’t want to put low-income kids at risk by using CHIP to cover adults. He claims Leavitt plans to increase CHIP’s cost by adding adult waivers. Some states cover more adults through their CHIP program than children, which results in funding shortfalls.

The new investment in CHIP will be paid for with a 61 cent increase in the federal tax on cigarettes, and would add 3.2 million children over the next five years. Hatch admits that adding children will cost a lot more per child than the existing program because the new children are harder to find.

Leavitt believes the use of tax increases to fund spending increases is undesirable. Leavitt claims that the bill is nothing more than a massive expansion of government-run health care and will result in higher taxes. He contends it will move a million people off private insurance and onto public assistance. The bill reduces outlays in five years, which will squander any temporary gains.

Leavitt is resisting what he perceives to be a gradual government take-over of health care. Leavitt claims that Hatch and others are putting millions of needy children at risk by trying to expand the program in light of a threatened presidential veto. He wants to reauthorize CHIP for only the low-income children it was intended to serve, and to allow the economy to make private health insurance more affordable.

Both sides are claiming the high ground here. Hatch claims he is just trying to help needy children. (And who could possibly be opposed to that?) Leavitt maintains the bill is short-sighted, and is a blatant attempt to federalize medicine. Leavitt seems to be striking a common Republican theme against raising taxes to expand federal programs. Hatch is not up for reelection until 2012 – the same time that Gov. Huntsman will likely complete his second term as governor. One can only wonder if Leavitt is preparing for a Senate bid in 2010 – when Senator Bennett’s seat is up. Stay tuned for a compromise on CHIP that will result in maintaining coverage for existing recipients with a limited expansion.

Reproduced with permission from the Davis County Clipper

I'm still miffed by this article, can anyone tell me why?

State leaders pass on Moore's 'Sicko' prescription for health care system

Correction: Orem Republican Rep. Bradley Daw compared filmmaker Michael Moore to Joseph Goebbels. The quote was incorrectly attributed to a different lawmaker in Wednesday's Tribune.

Utah Rep. Carl Wimmer skipped Tuesday's free screening of "Sicko," Michael Moore's documentary on the failings of America's health care system.

The Herriman Republican had spent his day drumming up donations for his younger brother, who has no health coverage to pay for expensive cancer treatments.

Though personally touched by the plight of the nation's uninsured and underinsured, Wimmer has "no interest" in the movie, which he doubts will drive reform.

"Michael Moore's movies are full of lies and half-truths and I don't see how this will be any different," said Wimmer. "Until we have a firm grasp on the problem, I don't think anyone will be able to solve it."

The free screening was arranged by physician and attorney Clark Newhall, who had invited more than 100 state leaders. The no-shows included Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., dozens of state lawmakers, the president of the Utah Medical Association, and the CEOs of Intermountain Health Care and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah.

Among the handful who did attend: state insurance commissioner Kent Michie and two lawmakers, Democratic Reps. David Litvack of Salt Lake City and Larry Wiley of West Valley City.The lackluster attendance may seem surprising considering health care - or how to pay for it - is emerging as the top domestic issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. But it signals just how complex and politically polarizing the debate has become.

Charity never faileth

Wimmer believes the government has no business fixing health care. He prefers charitable and free-market solutions. Eric Wimmer, 36, was caught between jobs when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Wimmer said his brother is active and healthy and ''probably thought he could get by without health insurance.''

The lawmaker set to work on his own family remedy: "benching for bucks."
A world-class powerlifter, Wimmer will travel next month to Elko, Nev., to compete in a national tournament. Prior to the August 11 event, he's soliciting donations for his brother's chemotherapy; a dollar or penny for every pound he lifts.

"I'm really hoping to hit 550 lbs. or more," said Wimmer. "Eric has two small children who need him to survive. When I lift in August all I will be thinking about is them."

Doctors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute agreed to treat Eric, though he has no ability to pay, said Wimmer. "But our family has a deep sense of responsibility, so we're all pulling together to pay his debts."

Wimmer acknowledges that most other sick or injured uninsured Utahns "can't get the press that I can," but insists: "Charity never faileth. It's the way to handle most of these uninsured situations."

'You're not a bad person'

Another uninsured Utahn who is fighting cancer and relying on charity is Phillip Arena, who raises money for the homeless at the Salt Lake Rescue Mission.

In 2002, as Utah's economy rode a high from the Winter Olympics, the mission was struggling to feed the city's swelling homeless population. Staff members agreed to cuts in pay and to an end to health benefits.

As the charity's finances improved, Arena started shopping for catastrophic health coverage - but too late.

At a routine visit to the doctor, he learned cancerous tumors were the source of pain and stiffness in his jaw. His prognosis is good - but his surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy are estimated to exceed $300,000.

Well-wishers are contributing to a fund that colleagues established. And the Huntsman Cancer Institute has agreed to match all donations dollar for dollar, said Steve Bailey, pastor and mission program director.

But the hospital can't write off everyone's debt, and it has turned away patients, said spokeswoman Linda Aagard.

Arena's advice: See a doctor, then worry about how to pay.

"Don't wait until it's too late to seek [medical] help," he said. "You're not a bad person because you don't have health insurance."

Solutions elusive

Newhall had plunked down about $1,500 for tickets to the Broadway Centre Theatre's 7 p.m. show of "Sicko" and a reception afterwards at Mr. Z's Cucina Italiana.

Some invited leaders told him they had prior engagements; others said they had seen the movie or planned to.

Orem Republican Rep. Bradley Daw declined, saying: "I don't wish to support a filmmaker cut from the same cloth as Joseph Goebbels. The solution to our health care system is not socialism, which has never been successful in the long run."

Just before the movie began, Newhall gave unused tickets to a waiting line of Utahns who are either uninsured or have had benefits denied. He plans to give those he originally invited a second chance to see "Sicko" in September.

"Too much of the time when I talk to legislators about health care, or when I hear legislators talk about health care, I hear slogans and very little in the way of facts," he said.

Newhall's take on filmmaker Moore? He is "right on the button with his indictment of the profit-driven health care system in the U.S. as being inadequate care for the needs of U.S. citizens." The fix, however, is anything but easy.

"Anything that can be done in Utah is only a Band-Aid," Newhall acknowledged, "because of the national nature of the problem."

kstewart@sltrib.com
lrosetta@sltrib.com


To help

* ERIC WIMMER: Contributions can be made at any Zion's Bank. For information, call 802-254-5981 or e-mail Rep. Wimmer at csjhrw@msn.com.
* PHILLIP ARENA: Donations can be made in his name at any Wells Fargo Bank. Checks to the Salt Lake Rescue Mission are also accepted.

Tell us
What have you done to raise funds for a loved one's medical bills? We'd like Utahns to share their stories by commenting on this article online at www.sltrib.com.

I'll comment soon, that is if I can find some way to not use the words, "dumb" and "ass".

Guess where the Miller and Burridge families went on Monday

The first correct guess gets a free lunch at Jasmine's

Davis County Clipper: Bountiful man re-elected to Democrat post

Tom Busselberg 24.JUL.07

BOUNTIFUL — A Bountiful man has been re-elected to a high state Democratic post. Rob Miller was unanimously elected by delegates to the Utah Democratic Party convention to continue in his role as vice-chairman of the state party. Miller is a native Utahn and long-time Bountiful resident. Chairman Wayne Holland was also returned to his seat.

The pair are due to lead the party for the next two years.

“I am honored to be able to help lead Democrats in Utah through the upcoming pivotal elections,” says Miller.

“Like other Democrats across the West, I have been helping to lay a foundation to break the stranglehold of one-party role. (The year) 2008 promises to be a good year for Democrats and other Utahns working to restore responsible, effective government,” he says.

At the recent party convention and Jefferson & Jackson fund raiser, appearances featured visits from two contenders for the Democratic nomination for President: Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut.

Miller, who ran unsuccessfully for the county commission last year, says he is intimately familiar with issues facing Davis County residents and well-positioned within the party to help Democrats in northern Utah elect city, county and state representatives.

Miller, his wife, Michelle, and their three children are residents of Bountiful.

Currently, he is an advertising executive for the Enterprise Newspaper Group and a board member for Democrats in the West. He recently stepped down after two years as vice president of the Mental Health Association of Utah and three years with the American Cancer Society’s Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer group.

He is also the moderator and primary author of a widely read political blog, The Utah Amicus.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com

Tom Barberi

KALL700 LIVES!

I just wanted to tell everybody how excited I am to announce that KALL700 is coming back as well as "The Tom Barberi Show" 6 to 10 in the mornings. The full lineup of shows is still under construction but KALL700 will still be the home of the UTES and Real Salt Lake. Stay tuned................
Tom Barberi
"The Voice of Reason"

Imus in the Nightside: Utah AG Shurtleff refers to women as "Ho"

Salt Lake City, UT

After teasing a segment on KSL's Nightside how to take your "chick" to a chick-flick a caller called in and asked Attorney General Mark Shurtleff:


Caller: "Why do you call women chicks?"

Shurtleff: "What am I supposed to call them? Ho--?"

then he stopped.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Listen here:

KSL will never be the same again!

Can You Find Utah On This Map?

This one just made me laugh out loud.

Hat tip: Richard Warnick, One Utah

Pro-voucher propagandists and "Jeff Arguments"

As freshmen at BYU, Lisa and I together took arguably one of the best classes ever offered on campus. The Honors Colloquium class was taught by three professors - two from Humanities and one from the Physics department. These three fine professors couldn't be more different from each other politically, and because of their mutual respect they challenged us (and each other) to examine our philosophies and values.

It was refreshing!

For all its great moments, though, the class had an unfortunate annoyance in the form of a recently returned missionary named Jeff. Jeff was a very bright guy, but whenever Jeff wanted to make a point, he'd quote a scripture. Early on it seemed fine; after all, we did start off every class with a prayer. We were all good kids and who of us would want to challenge an RM glowing with the fire of his convictions?

But after about the third day of class, something changed. Jeff began to get on our nerves. Fascinating debates and discussions would be cut-off midstream as Jeff would interject with a favorite Book of Mormon quote. Soon enough, whenever Jeff raised his hand, you could see fidgeting and hear the occasional faint groan from somehwere in the class. Over time, fellow students in the class began to ignore Jeff.

But Jeff persisted.

I believe it was finally Jeff's girlfriend who told him that people couldn't stand him anymore.

So, whenever Lisa or I hear someone quoting scripture or the prophets to prevail in a discussion (political or otherwise), we can quickly see it for what it is - a "JEFF ARGUMENT".

Technically, a Jeff Argument is a variant of the "Argumentum ad Verecundiam" logical fallacy. The Utah twist on the Appeal to Authority argument is that, in most cases, the authority used is simply being exploited to match the private interpretation of the presenter.

It seems that pro-voucher propagandists (several I imagine are fellow Cougars) don't mind Jeff Arguments. They believe that Utah citizens like Jeff Arguments. In fact, they're so confident that enough Utah voters are swayed by Jeff Arguments that they're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars placing Jeff Arguments into the mainstream media. These aren't little ra-rah's as I mentioned in my Apostle Paul sarcasm piece. This is an all-out, strategic Jeff Argument extravaganza.

Perhaps you haven't heard the latest radio spot, in which a calm, pleasant voice not unlike the CD's we all have quotes this passage (without explicit reference for added effect):

"And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches."

Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 6:12

The case being made, I assume, is that private school entitlements, as laid out in House Bill 148, will tear down the walls of social inequality and give all students, regardless of financial means, a chance to "great learning." Perhaps this concept and the scripture reference quoted is what Leah Barker, spokesperson for PCE, was referring to when she said:

"I think that it is in line with the value system that Utah families have — when families really understand what the voucher program is about, then they are going to vote 'yes' because it is right in line with their value and belief system."

Leah Barker, PCE Spokesperson (emphasis added) as cited in the Deseret News.

Fascinating stuff. I learned a lot at BYU but here's a lesson I guess I didn't learn: When you're in Utah and you're 21 points down in the polls there's nothing that can lift your spirits (and your numbers) faster than a JEFF ARGUMENT.

All Bloggers Welcome!

I was a bit surprised by the lack of activity and information on the Utah political blogosphere during and after the GOP State Convention. I'm not saying that this year's Utah State Democratic Convention will be any different, but I hope it is.

The Utah State Democratic Convention is being held at Skyline High School(3251 East 3760 South in Salt Lake City) and begins at 8 AM for caucus attendees.

I will be sponsoring a bloggers booth close to the action for any and all takers. What I mean is that I not only want my left-leaning friends to attend, but I would be honored to find out that bloggers like Utah Conservative and Green Jello came by. That Tom, Jess, Frank, Tyler, Thad, Jeremy, Marshall, and Derek came by. That Randy, Natalie, Allie, Bradly, Kervyn, and WP came by. That Jen, Jeff, Mark, Holly, Tracy, Voice, Mike, Randy II, AW, and Mr. Reach came by. And, that Ethan, Dave, Bob, DS, Ed, Cliff, and Jason came by( just to name a few).

Oh, and Ric too.

Come one, come all it's all up to you. The invitation is open and I hope you will "Say Yes!" and attend this year's Utah State Democratic Convention!

With every best wish,

The Utah Amicus!

for George

"Ahhhhhh, blame the environmentalist!"

The Senate Site

Barack Obama to visit Utah on August 5, 2007

Kristi and John Cumming ● Elsa and Dick Gary
Nancy and Mark Gilbert ● Ann and Malcom MacQuoid
Colleen and Max Mendel ● Terri Orr ● Lisa and Steven Rosenfeld
Jill and Richard Sheinberg
*Committee in formation

Cordially invite you to join them
in welcoming

Senator Barack Obama

For an event benefiting Obama for America
**Location given upon RSVP**
Park City, Utah

Sunday, August 5, 2007 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Requested Contribution Per Person: $500 for General Reception $2,300 for VIP Reception $10,000 for Co-host

RSVP REQUIRED
R.S.V.P. information attached. For more information please contact at
Adia Smith at asmith@barackobama.com or 310-277-2008

Obama for America does not accept contributions from currently registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents, political action committees, or minors under the age of 16.
Contributions or gifts to Obama for America are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Federal law prohibits the acceptance of corporate contributions.

Paid for by Obama for America.

Bill Richardson Spotlight on YouTube

New Mexico Governor and presidential hopeful, Bill Richardson, is this year's Utah Democratic Party's Jefferson & Jackson Celebration Keynote Speaker. The event is being held Friday night at This is The Place Heritage Park starting at 5:30 PM. To learn more about this event click here.

Cannon Fiddles away at Partisan False Choices--While Dismissing Condolences About How His District Burns in Record Size Wildfires

Watch how Joe Wilson dismisses Cannon's silly loaded line of questions. Wilson offers condolences about the Milford Flat Fires, Cannon dismisses it to stay with juvenile loaded questions. You gotta see the last two minutes of this exchange. Wilson schools Cannon hard!

Cannon you sure are a Clarence Darrow and Perry Mason rolled into one with that cross examination! One thing for sure is that if anyone in this exchange will be remembered for being blow-hard it will be you Mr. Cannon. This exchange proves the old proverb said about Cannon for years: Cannon is .22 caliber Congressman in a .45 caliber world.

Cannon = Pot Calling Kettle Black Part 2

Salt Lake City, UT

Great Public Form Letter in today's Salt Lake Tribune:

Cannon and competence



Recently, Utah Rep. Chris Cannon said that U.S. Attorney David Iglesias was fired not for political reasons, but "because he's an idiot" and "was clearly not competent to do his job" (Tribune, July 10). I guess that depends on Cannon's definition of "idiot." If by "idiot" he means someone who refused to push phony voter fraud indictments against Democrats to help Republicans just before a close election, then yeah, I guess Iglesias - who was honored by the Justice Department for "exemplary leadership" - qualifies. If you take the standard definition of "idiot," then Cannon must be looking in a mirror when he makes that accusation. As for not being competent to do his job, again, Cannon should think long and hard before he makes that kind of statement. It's long been a given that Cannon is "clearly not competent" to do much of anything except bluster and boast, make idiotic accusations and embarrass the whole state.

R. Dale Webb
Salt Lake City







Cannon: Worser Person in the World!

Here Cannon adamantly argues that it is appropriate to fire U.S. Attorneys for political reasons



So if you are being investigated by the FBI, Mr. Cannon, and the US Attorney is not going stop the investigation of you is it appropriate to have the President fire the US Attorney for political reasons? This is ridiculous and renders the entire criminal code meaningless and subject to executive discretion. Cannon you are a sell out to the rule of law, the Congress who passes criminal penalties and to our Country.

Lady Bird Johnson

Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady, dies at 94

“Say Yes” to Utah Democrats’

Utah Democrats, presidential campaigns make last-minute preparations for visits of Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Christopher Dodd

SALT LAKE CITY - “Say Yes,” says the chairman of the Utah Democratic Party as the party finalizes plans for visits of presidential contenders Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14.

Wayne Holland Monday called on Utahns to join Democrats and “Say Yes” to a healthy environment, “Say Yes” to fair pay for a day’s work, “Say Yes” to integrity in government, “Say Yes” to quality schools for every child, “Say Yes” to support for our veterans, affordable college, and universal health care.

“Say Yes” reflects the positive, solution-oriented message that separates Utah Democrats from Republicans and will propel Utah Democrats through upcoming elections in 2008. The campaign begins with the appearances of Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, who will speak at Democratic events Friday and Saturday, respectively.

A record number of Democratic and progressive-minded Utahns will attend the party’s primary fundraiser, the Jefferson-Jackson Celebration. The event will be held at This Is The Place Heritage Park on Friday. Richardson will speak at the event.

The governor will be available to take questions from Utah journalists before the event. Credentialed members of the news media will have access to park grounds during the celebration.

On Saturday, Dodd will address Utah Democrats at their annual organizing convention. The event will be held at Skyline High School; Dodd will speak at 10:40 a.m. The senator will be available to take questions from Utah journalists. Media credentials will be available at the door. The Richardson for President campaign announced Friday that because of scheduling conflicts the governor would not be able to attend Saturday’s convention.

Delegates to the convention are expected to re-elect Holland chair and Rob Miller vice chair. Resolutions under consideration include spotlighting the work of Jim Matheson, our 2nd District congressman, and other Democratic members of the 110th Congress in their efforts to reverse the consequences of a Republican-controlled Congress; recognizing Mayor Peter Corroon and other Democratic officials at Salt Lake County for their commitment to fiscal responsibility; thanking Democratic officeholders and candidates for their commitment to Democratic values and the tough fight at the Capitol; and praising Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson for his efforts in combating global warming. Utah State Senator Ed Mayne is expected to be honored for his efforts in helping Utahns receive a decent wage.

“We have a great deal to look back on with pride as we reflect on the elections of 2006,” Holland told party delegates, “and a great deal to look forward to as we plan for 2008.”

For more information and details on media credentials, contact Bill Keshlear at (801) 699-7773 or 328-1212, ext. 206.

Come show your support for Presidential Candidate Richardson

Utahns Unified Behind Presidential Candidate Governor Bill Richardson

WEST JORDAN, UT– On July 13th, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will arrive in Utah to attend a fundraiser and provide the keynote address at the Utah Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson dinner. At 1:00 p.m. (MDT) Utahns unified behind the candidacy of Governor Bill Richardson will be holding a press conference. Governor Bill Richardson has a garnered a western appeal that has bridged the political divide as well as conveyed a strong vote of faith and support in his candidacy, according to Utah for Richardson State Coordinator Aaron Thompson.*

“Utahns, have been recently confronted with massive wildfires, politically heated voucher discussions, as well as sweltering western and national issues that have dominated the Republican and Democrat Presidential debates,” Thompson said. “Utahns are witnessing a significant increase of Presidential candidates traveling through our state that is unmatched in Utah history. Additionally, the last Presidential candidate to file a declaration of candidacy in person was local Utahn Orrin Hatch. Prior to the Hatch filing according to the records of the Utah Historical Society and the Lt. Governors office, Utah has not experienced a Presidential declaration of candidacy filing in person for decades if not within the last century. Utahns are extremely excited for the opportunity to participate in the early presidential process as well as hear from Presidential candidate Bill Richardson as he confronts the western issues head on and in person.”


When: July 13th at 1 p.m. (MDT).

Where: West Side steps of Washington Square, Salt Lake City Hall

Who: Confirmed Speakers: Mayor Rocky Anderson, Mayor Corroon, Sen. Ross Romero, and David Ibarra.

The media and community is encouraged to attend this Press Conference as well as the next Utah for Richardson organizing committee meeting, at 7:00 p.m. on July 10th in Conference room D at the Salt Lake City Library.

*Media Note – for a list of local high-level endorsees and to arrange for endorsee interviews, contact Aaron Thompson at 801-381-4077.

The Fourth of July Too

Just before dusk Sami and I decided that we wanted some snakes and smoke bombs, and a delicious and creamy, Barq's Red Cream Soda.

Ahhh, both Sami and I love Red Cream Soda, but little did we know that we wouldn't have the chance to enjoy our 32 ounce Forth of July treat. As we approached our street I saw several boys trying to stomp out a flame that was quickly becoming a fire.

"Can you help us put it out!?" one of the young boys pleaded.

I stepped out of the car and immediately quenched the fire's thirst with our Barq's Red Cream Soda.

Later that night, just after we finished our yearly end of the driveway (legal) firework display, I took the following photos.

Yea Fireworks!

Hey dad, they have big fireworks!

This time I didn't have a delicious Barq's Red Cream Soda to share

As the firetrucks sirens moved closer I heard a distinct voice from my neighbor's lawn say, "hide the evidence!"

The End

Samuel Amicus Miller

On his third birthday

The Construction Project

Well done Sami!

Annabel, Abigail, and Alex are serious architects

In less than 15 seconds both of these young men will understand humiliation...,

but momma will help to make everything better

Cousin Jake

The noon break

William and Sami

The He-Men

Thanks everyone, but I have to go meet my peeps

And away he goes...

Cannon = Pot Calling Kettle Black

Chris "there are no Utahns on Minimum Wage" Cannon blasted former United States Attorney David Iglesias for being an "Idiot" on Faux "News". "He was fired because he's an idiot," Cannon said.

Cannon lied about his resume when he initially ran for Congress in 1996. In campaign literature Cannon claimed he graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Economics. Actually Cannon graduated with a degree in general studies. It appears all actual majors were too rigorous for Mr. Cannon. According to an unnamed prominent Utah County Attorney, "I remember Chris Cannon when he practiced law down here in Provo. He had a horrible reputation as a lawyer. He was known as the guy who could not string two sentences together." Cannon was fired from a legal counsel job for the Interior Department in the Reagan Administration.

Flashback of Idiotic Cannon Highlights:







See this clip and see who is the real idiot.

Is Obama too nice?

On Sunday's Meet the Press, columnist David Brooks offered an interesting insight. After admitting that he was really impressed with Senator Barak Obama, he offered an opinion of why he isn't rising in national polls of Democrats, despite his amazing record of grass-roots fundraising. According to Brooks, the reason the Democratic base hasn't warmed up more to Senator Obama is that he doesn't offer enough red meat. According to his argument, the Democratic base isn't interested in Obama's message of optimism for the future and cooperation to solve our nation's problems. All they want to hear is Bush bashing.

This analysis has enough ring of truth to it that Democrats should be a little worried. In their book "Crashing the Gate", liberal bloggers Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas offer a compelling argument that the Democratic tendency toward negativism and stridency (especially within the special interest groups) has cost them in recent national elections. They have even coined an irreverent motto from the rallying cry of pro-choice activists, saying that Democratic special interests insist on their "right-to-lose".

With the Republicans in disarray over the Iraq War, corruption in Congress over the last decade, and a dismal record of the Right in addressing our nation's problems, it would be a shame for Democrats if they yet again snatch defeat from victory in the 2008 presidential election because the base fails to learn the vital lesson that America wants solutions and vision, not merely criticism and negative rhetoric.

As the saying goes, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.

From USDP Blog: Something to think about during a heat wave

Click here to check out an animated Patterns of Global Tempature Change of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere from 1901 to 2001

"While no single heat wave can be blamed on global warming, the fact we have seen so many record breaking years over the past decade or so should, by now, give even the most hardened of global warming skeptics pause."

Click here for more from Craig Axford's post, Something to think about during a heat wave

D4U Endorses Ralph Becker

Democracy for Utah Endorses Ralph Becker for SLC Mayor

From the Horse's Mouth

I wonder who Salt Lake City mayoral candidate, Keith Christensen, was talking about when he said in yesterday's Salt Lake Tribune,

"There is a faction in the state's Republican Party that is scary," he said. "And it doesn't accurately reflect the values of Utah."

Who were you talking about Keith?

Poll: Utahns Against Vouchers

Salt Lake City, Utah

There are more people in the "very likely to vote against" than in both "for vouchers" columns. The total against vouchers is 57% while the total for vouchers is 36%. What is the response from Parent's for Choice? The people aren't educated enough to know how to vote yet. Or in other words "People against vouchers must be stupid." Having "uneducated people" are what we are trying to avoid. That's why we oppose vouchers.

Bush /Cheney Impeachment on the Brink

Salt Lake City, UT

45% favor to 46% oppose Bush Impeachment

54% favor - 40 % oppose Cheney Impeachment

124,218 acts of coercion!

"I [Rep. Craig Frank] don’t think I’ve spoken with a single individual who signed the petition (or would have signed it) that is[n’t] seriously reconsidering their actions and their vote. You see, many of them feel they were “coerced” or “lied to.”

When I told Democratic Chair Wayne Holland about Rep. Frank's statement he laughed and said, "124,218 acts of coercion! The Grassy Knollers' are at it again!" Every time they're wrong its a GRAND conspiracy..."

I laughed too.